Private company

Arriva UK Trains

Arriva UK Trains Limited is the company that oversees Arriva's train operating companies in the United Kingdom.1

Last updated Oct 18, 2026.

Overview

2011Founded1
  • Industrypublic transport1
  • HeadquartersDoxford International Business Park1

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Arriva UK Trains Limited is the company that oversees Arriva's train operating companies in the United Kingdom. It gained its first franchises in February 2000. These were later lost, though several others were gained. In January 2010, with the take-over of Arriva by Deutsche Bahn, Arriva UK Trains also took over the running of those formerly overseen by DB Regio UK Limited.2

How it started

Former operations

Arriva Trains Merseyside ran urban rail services on Merseyside from February 2000 until March 2003 and Arriva Trains Northern ran local rail services in Northern England from February 2000 until December 2004. Both franchises were lost to a 50:50 joint venture between Serco and NedRailways.

Arriva Trains Wales operated the majority of rail services in Wales, operating the Wales & Borders franchise from 7 December 2003 until 13 October 2018. This franchise was lost to KeolisAmey Wales.

Arriva Rail North operated the Northern franchise from April 2016 to 29 February 2020. This franchise was terminated and handed to the government-owned Northern Trains.

Arriva Rail London operated the London Overground concession from 13 November 2016 until 3 May 2026. The concession was then handed over to First Rail London.

Chiltern Railways operated commuter and regional routes on the Chiltern Main Line. The Chiltern franchise ran from 21 July 1996 to 20 September 2026, and operations were transferred to the state-owned train operating company of the same name.

From Wikipedia’s article on Arriva UK Trains, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Timeline

  1. 2011Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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