Open-access operator
Appearance

In rail transport, an open-access operator is an operator that takes full commercial risk, running on infrastructure owned by a third party and buying paths on a chosen route and in countries where rail services run under franchises are not subject to franchising.[1]
By country
Austria
Czech Republic
Belgium
France
Germany
Former operators
- Hamburg-Köln-Express taken over by Flixtrain
- Locomore Stuttgart-Berlin route taken over by Leo Express
Italy
Former operators
Netherlands
Portugal
Slovakia
- RegioJet (all services except those on Bratislava — Komárno mainline, which are franchised)
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Former operators
- Blå Tåget
- Saga Rail
United Kingdom
In development
Former operators
- Heathrow Connect (absorbed by TfL Rail May 2018)
- Wrexham & Shropshire (ceased trading January 2011)
Former proposals
- First Harrogate Trains
- Glasgow Trains
- On Route Logistics (company dissolved)[6]
- Platinum Trains
- Rutland Rail (company dissolved)[7]
References
- ^ Abrams, Martin (July 2015). "Passenger's Guide to Franchising" (PDF). Better Transport. p. 4. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ "WESTbahn". westbahn.at. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "Arriva launches national night services in the Netherlands". railjournal.com. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ "FlixTrain starts ticket sale in Sweden | RailTech.com". RailTech.com | Online News for the Railway Industry. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "MTR launches open access inter-city service". Railway Gazette International. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- ^ "ON ROUTE LOGISTICS UK LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ "RUTLAND RAIL LIMITED - Overview (Free company information from Companies House)".