Franchises
New franchises -- 'Greater Anglia' (Abellio Greater Anglia) has started in 2012.
The remaining franchises, Great Western, InterCity East Coast and Thameslink/Great Northern, are due to be re-let from 2013 onwards.
Due to the franchise bidding issues surrounding the 'InterCity West Coast' franchise will have to be retendered. In the meantime, the incumbent of Virgin Trains, has been asked to run the franchise for approximately another year.
Read more about this topic: Train Operating Company, Future TOCs