{{Short description|Rail company using third-party infrastructure}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}} {{Use British English|date=November 2016}} thumb|Map of private long-distance passenger rail services in Central Europe 2018-2019 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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Abrams|first=Martin|date=July 2015|title=Passenger's Guide to Franchising|url=https://bettertransport.org.uk/sites/default/files/research-files/franchising-guide.pdf|access-date=4 September 2020|website=Better Transport|page=4}}</ref>
== Passenger open-access operators by country == === Austria === * RegioJet * WESTbahn
====In development==== * Silverstar Railways<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-22 |title=[passenger] A new star is born: Silverstar Railways plans domestic and international train services |url=https://railcolornews.com/2024/11/22/passenger-a-new-star-is-born-silverstar-railways-plans-domestic-and-international-train-services/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Railcolor News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== Czech Republic === * LEO Express * RegioJet
=== Belgium ===
* Eurostar * European Sleeper<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Nachttrein Berlijn - Boek een slaaptrein bij European Sleeper |url=https://www.europeansleeper.eu/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=European Sleeper |language=nl}}</ref>
=== France === * Nightjet (suspended 2025 after end of subsidies) * Trenitalia France * Renfe<ref>{{Cite web |last=Preston |first=Robert |date=2023-06-13 |title=Renfe’s French subsidiary ready for business |url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/renfes-french-subsidiary-ready-for-business/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=International Railway Journal |language=en-GB}}</ref>
====In development==== * Le Train * Velvet<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alstom receives an order from Proxima for 12 Avelia Horizon very high-speed trains, including 15 years of maintenance |url=https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2024/10/alstom-receives-order-proxima-12-avelia-horizon-very-high-speed-trains-including-15-years-maintenance |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=Alstom |language=en}}</ref> * Kevin Speed<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.kevin-rail.com/english |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=www.kevin-rail.com |archive-date=9 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509175438/https://www.kevin-rail.com/english |url-status=dead }}</ref>
=== Germany === * Eurostar * FlixTrain * Harz-Berlin-Express * Nightjet * WESTbahn<ref>{{Cite web |title=WESTbahn |url=https://westbahn.at/en |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=westbahn.at |language=en}}</ref> * European Sleeper<ref name=":0" />
====Former operators==== * Hamburg-Köln-Express taken over by Flixtrain * Locomore Stuttgart-Berlin route taken over by Leo Express, marketing through Flixtrain
=== Hungary === * RegioJet
=== Italy === * DB/ÖBB Italia * Nightjet * NTV (Italo) * Arenaways
=== Netherlands === * European Sleeper<ref name=":0" /> * Arriva night services<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arriva launches national night services in the Netherlands |url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/main-line/arriva-launches-national-night-services-in-the-netherlands/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=railjournal.com |language=en}}</ref> * GoVolta<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vosman |first=Quintus |date=2023-12-07 |title=GoVolta to run day trains from Amsterdam to Paris, Berlin and Basel |url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/main-line/govolta-to-run-day-trains-from-amsterdam-to-paris-berlin-and-basel/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=International Railway Journal |language=en-GB}}</ref>
====In development==== * Heuro<ref>{{Cite web |title=HEURO |url=https://www.heurotrain.com/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=www.heurotrain.com |language=en}}</ref> * Qbuzz international services<ref>{{Cite web |last=Geerts |first=Esther |date=2023-06-12 |title=Arriva and Qbuzz request access for trains between the Netherlands and Paris |url=https://www.railtech.com/infrastructure/2023/06/12/arriva-and-qbuzz-request-access-for-trains-between-the-netherlands-and-paris/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=RailTech.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== Poland ===
* LEO Express * RegioJet ==== In development ====
* FlixTrain<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wintle |first=Thomas |date=2024-11-15 |title=Poland: FlixTrain gets permission to run Berlin-Warsaw route |url=https://www.railtech.com/all/2024/11/15/poland-flixtrain-gets-permission-to-run-berlin-warsaw-route/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=RailTech.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== Romania ===
* Astra Trans Carpatic * Regio Călători * Softrans * Transferoviar Grup
=== Slovakia === * RegioJet (all services except those on Bratislava — Komárno mainline, which are franchised)
=== Slovenia === * Adria transport
=== Spain === * Ouigo España * Iryo
=== Sweden === * VR Snabbtåg Sverige (formerly MTRX)<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/mtr-launches-open-access-inter-city-service.html |title=MTR launches open access inter-city service |date=23 March 2015 |work=Railway Gazette International |access-date=2017-05-20 |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024084715/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/mtr-launches-open-access-inter-city-service.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Snälltåget (Transdev) (Malmö–Stockholm–Åre) * TÅGAB * SJ AB{{refn|group=note|name=n3|Most services run open-access with the exception of Stockholm - Duved, Stockholm - Hamburg and services run by subsidiaries.}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=SJ-koncernen |url=https://www.sj.se/om-sj/sj-koncernen |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=SJ |language=sv}}</ref>
====Former operators==== * Blå Tåget * Saga Rail *FlixTrain<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-14|title=FlixTrain starts ticket sale in Sweden {{!}} RailTech.com|url=https://www.railtech.com/infrastructure/2021/04/14/flixtrain-starts-ticket-sale-in-sweden/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=RailTech.com {{!}} Online News for the Railway Industry|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Flixtrain lämnar Sverige – Järnvägar.nu |url=https://jarnvagar.nu/flixtrain-lamnar-sverige/ |access-date=2024-06-02 }}</ref> * Sydvästen
===United Kingdom=== *Eurostar *Grand Central *Heathrow Express *Hull Trains *Lumo
====In development==== *Go-op *Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway *Virgin Trains *Gemini Trains *Evolyn *FS Italiane *Alliance Rail (Marchwood-Southampton)
====Former operators==== *Wrexham & Shropshire (ceased trading January 2011)
====Former proposals==== * Alliance Rail Holdings (company dissolved) <ref>{{Cite web |title=ALLIANCE RAIL HOLDINGS LTD |url=http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/07026295 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=data.companieshouse.gov.uk}}</ref> * First Harrogate Trains * Grand Union (purchased by FirstGroup) * Glasgow Trains * Platinum Trains
==References== ===Notes=== {{reflist|group=note}}
===Citations=== {{reflist}}
Category:Rail transport operators
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