A train operating company (TOC) is a company which operates passenger trains on the British railway system since privatisation. Most have franchises let by the government, but some are "open-access" operators which a licence to operate additional services.

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) provides a common voice for the TOCs and provides some centralised coordination, for example the provision of a national timetable and journey planner. The National Rail brand continues to use BR's double-arrow logo.

On privatisation, the three passenger sectors of BR, InterCity, Network SouthEast and Regional Railways were split between their divisions, being franchised out to an operator for a time period.

InterCity TOCs

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The six Intercity divisions were split between five operators. The East Coast went to GNER, The West Coast, Cross-Country to Virgin Trains, the Midland Main Line to Midland Mainline, the Great Eastern Main Line to Anglia Trains, Great Western Main Line to Great Western Trains.

Of these, the GEML was subsequently refranchised to one (Anglia), while Great Western Trains was taken over by First Group and became First Great Western.

TOCs in London and the South East

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At privatisation

After privatisation, Network SouthEast was divided up into several franchises:

• c2c - previously LTS Rail.

London, Tilbury and Southend Line

• Chiltern Railways

Chiltern

• First Great Eastern - previously Great Eastern. Now part of the One Railway franchise.

Great Eastern

• First Great Western Link - previously Thames Trains.

North Downs

Thames

• Island Line

Island Line

• Silverlink - previously North London Railways.

Northampton Line

• Southeastern - previously Southeastern (train operating company). Connex South Eastern lost the franchise due to poor reliability and financial problems.

Kent Coast

• Southern - previously South Central Trains and before that Connex South Central.

South London Line

Sussex Coast

• Thameslink

Thameslink

• West Anglia Great Northern - now divided into Great Northern and West Anglia, of which the latter is part of the One Railway franchise.

Great Northern

West Anglia

• South West Trains

Solent & Wessex

South Western Line

West of England Line

Later years

Regional TOCs

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South Wales & West Railway

Valley Lines

Central Trains

Anglia Railways

Regional Railways North East

North West Regional Railways

ScotRail

Current TOCs

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There are 25 privately-owned TOCs:

• Arriva Trains Wales
• c2c
• Central Trains
• Chiltern Railways
• First Capital Connect
• First Great Western
• First ScotRail
• First TransPennine Express
• Gatwick Express
• GNER
• Hull Trains (not a franchise)
• Island Line
• MerseyRail Electrics
• Midland Mainline
• Northern Rail
• one
• Silverlink
• Southern
• South Eastern Trains
• South West Trains
• Virgin Trains

Eurostar is also a member of ATOC, though it is not itself a TOC.

Planned Companies

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• Grand Central Railway will operate services from Sunderland and Bradford to London King's Cross in 2007 on an open-access basis.
• Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway will operate services in the near-furure between the locations mentioned.

Franchises soon to be let

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• South Western Franchise will consist of Island Line and South West Trains services in 2007.
• West Midlands Franchise
• East Midlands Franchise
• Cross Country Franchise