Open-access operator

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]

Map of private long-distance passenger rail services in Central Europe

Passenger open-access operators by country

Austria

• RegioJet
• WESTbahn

In development

• Silverstar Railways^[2]

Czech Republic

• LEO Express
• RegioJet

Belgium

• Eurostar
• European Sleeper^[3]

France

• Eurostar
• Trenitalia France
• Renfe^[4]

In development

• Le Train
• Proxima^[5]
• Kevin Speed^[6]

Former operators

• Izy

Germany

• Eurostar
• FlixTrain
• Harz-Berlin-Express
• Nightjet
• WESTbahn^[7]
• European Sleeper^[3]

Former operators

• Hamburg-Köln-Express taken over by Flixtrain
• Locomore Stuttgart-Berlin route taken over by Leo Express

Hungary

• RegioJet

Italy

• DB/ÖBB Italia
• Nightjet
• NTV (Italo)

Former operators

• Arenaways

Netherlands

• European Sleeper^[3]
• Arriva night services^[8]

In development

• GoVolta^[9]
• Heuro^[10]
• Qbuzz international services^[11]

Poland

• LEO Express

In development

• FlixTrain^[12]

Slovakia

• RegioJet (all services except those on Bratislava — Komárno mainline, which are franchised)

Slovenia

• Adria transport

Spain

• Ouigo España
• Iryo

Sweden

• MTRX^[13]
• Snälltåget (Transdev) (Malmö–Stockholm–Åre)
• TÅGAB
• SJ AB^{[note 1][14]}

Former operators

• Blå Tåget
• Saga Rail
• FlixTrain^[15][16]

United Kingdom

• Eurostar
• Grand Central
• Heathrow Express
• Hull Trains
• Lumo

In development

• Go-op
• Virgin Trains
• Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway
• Evolyn^[17]

Former operators

• Wrexham & Shropshire (ceased trading January 2011)

Former proposals

• Alliance Rail Holdings (company dissolved) ^[18]
• First Harrogate Trains
• Grand Union (purchased by FirstGroup)
• Glasgow Trains
• Platinum Trains

Notes

1. Most services run open-access with the exception of Stockholm - Duved, Stockholm - Hamburg and services run by subsidiaries.

References

1. Abrams, Martin (July 2015). "Passenger's Guide to Franchising" (PDF). Better Transport. p. 4. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
2. "[passenger] A new star is born: Silverstar Railways plans domestic and international train services". Railcolor News. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
3. "Nachttrein Berlijn - Boek een slaaptrein bij European Sleeper". European Sleeper (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 May 2023.
4. Preston, Robert (13 June 2023). "Renfe's French subsidiary ready for business". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
5. "Alstom receives an order from Proxima for 12 Avelia Horizon very high-speed trains, including 15 years of maintenance". Alstom. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
6. "About". www.kevin-rail.com. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
7. "WESTbahn". westbahn.at. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
8. "Arriva launches national night services in the Netherlands". railjournal.com. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
9. Vosman, Quintus (7 December 2023). "GoVolta to run day trains from Amsterdam to Paris, Berlin and Basel". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
10. "HEURO". www.heurotrain.com. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
11. Geerts, Esther (12 June 2023). "Arriva and Qbuzz request access for trains between the Netherlands and Paris". RailTech.com. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
12. Wintle, Thomas (15 November 2024). "Poland: FlixTrain gets permission to run Berlin-Warsaw route". RailTech.com. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
13. "MTR launches open access inter-city service". Railway Gazette International. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
14. "SJ-koncernen". SJ (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
15. "FlixTrain starts ticket sale in Sweden | RailTech.com". RailTech.com | Online News for the Railway Industry. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
16. "Flixtrain lämnar Sverige – Järnvägar.nu". Retrieved 2 June 2024.
17. "Eurostar rival Evolyn is set to hit the tracks by 2025". euronews. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
18. "ALLIANCE RAIL HOLDINGS LTD". data.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2023.