Transport UK (TUK) becomes the largest rail replacement operator in the UK today, providing Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) with both planned and emergency rail replacement services. 

GTR is the largest Train Operating Company (TOC) in the country with 18% of all railway journeys across 236 stations from London to Peterborough, and Brighton to Bedford. All GTR lines, including Great Northern, Thameslink, Southern and Gatwick Express, will be supported by TUK’s rail replacement service from today.   

TUK has a trusted delivery track record. TUK delivered 68,860 rail replacement services across Great Britain, for East Midlands Railway, Greater Anglia, Scotrail, Transport for Wales and West Midlands Trains as well as services for Network Rail and Transport for London. TUK covered almost 99.7% of planned rail replacement services and 93% of emergency services. 

TUK’s rail replacement operation will provide full procurement and management service for vehicles, drivers, coordinators, and other resources when railway lines are closed for planned engineering work or for short notice response to emergency incidents. These will be managed through TUK’s bespoke regional 24-hour innovative control teams that work with local control rooms to direct deployments across the country. 

The replacement services will initially run through to April 2025. 

Andy Lamont, Head of Rail Replacement at Transport UK, said: 

“Transport UK is pleased to support GTR with an excellent rail replacement service that has a longstanding record of safely and reliably transporting the nation’s passengers in times of need. TUK is proud to be the rail replacement service of choice for operators.  
 
“This milestone would not be possible without the support of the hardworking women and men who conduct TUK’s rail replacement service up and down the country.” 

Transport & Logistics – Driving the Industry Forward