Train Operating Companies and Open Access Operators

Train operating companies in the United Kingdom are private in nature and they can bid for the slots for allocation of specific railway zones from time to time. That is one reason for their being termed as the Open Access Operators.

You will find three such Open Access Operators in Great Britain. The first one of them is the Hull Trains that runs regular services between London and Hull. The second one is the Grand Central that operates between Sunderland and London. The third one is the Wrexham and Shropshire who operates passenger service between London and Wrexham. There are of course a few other operators that are not included within the jurisdiction of the National Rail. They operate with specific services and have been recently added in the list of the British train operating companies. Examples of such companies are Eurostar and Heathrow Express. The former operates via the Channel Tunnel while the second one provides fast services to Heathrow Airport.

Many among the metropolitan railway passenger services in the network are also operated using the local franchise in conjunction with the Passenger Transport Executive. At times the running is performed in conjunction with other civic bodies that are related with the transport and communication systems. The Mereseyrail franchise, First Scot Rail and Arriva Trains Wales, in the dominion of North London, Scotland, and Wales respectively are regulated by the Meresyside Passenger Transport Executive. These are all leading Open Access Operators among United Kingdom train operating companies.