ATOC – Association of Train Operating Companies
What is ATOC?
The Association of Train Operating Companies is an unincorporated association owned by its members. It was set up by the train operatingcompanies formed during the privatisation of the railways under the Railways Act 1993. As well as being the official voice of the passenger rail industry, it also provides its members with a range of services that enable them to comply with conditions laid on them in their franchise agreements and operating licences. This includes operating a number of mandatory “schemes” to protect and promote the benefits of a national rail network.
These cover:
- Ticketing and settlement of revenues between the operators
- The National Rail Enquiry Service
- The relationship with London Regional Transport
- Railcards
- Relations with the travel trade
- International products, such as Inter-rail and BritRail
- Staff travel ATOC’s philosophy is based on members’ collective aim to be a dynamic industry, meeting its customers’ needs, while playing a pivotal role at the heart of an integrated transport network.
What ATOC does
ATOC’s principal activities are:
- Facilitation, to help members work together to meet their obligations and to promote the use of passenger services.
- Assisting members to co-operate on developing products and managing projects that benefit passengers, to promote the advantages of the rail network, and to share best practice.
- Communicating with government, public bodies, European institutions and other authorities, the media and interest groups on behalf of members.
Monitoring legislation likely to affect the industry and to provide a constructive response. - Managing revenue collected through ticket sales and ensuring it is allocated appropriately, not only between ATOC members but also to and from third parties, including other transport operators.
- Providing information through printed and electronic materials, conferences, meetings and seminars on passenger rail industry issues and to collect, analyse and circulate relevant data. Its work is administered through four companies: ATOC Limited, through which it provides most of its services, employs the staff and acts as agent for many of the schemes; Rail Settlement Plan Limited, which manages the revenue; Rail Staff Travel Limited, managing staff travel, and NRES Limited, the public information provider.
Members:
- Abellio Greater Anglia
- Arriva Trains Wales
- c2c Rail
- Caledonian Sleeper
- Chiltern Railways
- CrossCountry
- EMR
- Eurostar (UK)
- First Hull Trains
- First TransPennine Express
- Grand Central
- Great Northern
- Chemin de fer du Grand Ouest
- Heathrow Express
- London Midland
- London Overground
- MerseyRail
- Northern
- ScotRail
- Southeastern
- Southern
- South West Trains
- Thameslink
- Virgin Trains
- Virgin Trains East Coast
