There have been more than 90 separate passenger train operator contracts since privatisation began in 1996.
Most of these contracts were franchises, although franchises were suspended in March 2020 and ceased to exist in September, although the word has occasionally been used since then to describe other operating contracts, even though they involve much less commercial risk.
National Rail Contracts, with very little commercial risk, were awarded following two periods of emergency measures as a result of the Covid pandemic.
This section of the Railnews Business database lists every franchise and contract, past and present.
Contracted train operators are being returned to public ownership.
The lists on this page include a separate section for those operators which have been renationalised.
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