UK Rail Network Visualized by Operator

Update: see the weekly updated version at: UK Rail Network Map

The United Kingdom’s railway network is split up into regional franchises, these franchises are run by private companies who bid on the work. So for example ScotRail, which runs the trains in Scotland is owned by the FIrst Group, who also run a number of other regional franchises. This can however change, when the contracts are up for bid.

Interestingly there is also a governmental holding company (Directly Operated Railways), which can take over a franchise if necessary, they currently run East Coast Trains.

For this visualization I have grouped Serco-Abellio and Abellio as Serco/Abellio.

EDIT: Like mentioned in the Scotland to the Rest of the UK, lines are drawn between stations on a route. So a direct route from Glasgow to London would be a direct line between the two terminus stations.

UK Railway Network by Operator

Inspired by Scotland’s connections to the rest of the UK.

Data:

Train lines: GTFS Data Exchange

Country outline: Natural Earth