National Rail is a brand name describing the 26 railway companies (TOCs - Train Operating Companies) of the British railway system, which use the infrastructure of Network Rail (the government-owned company which replaced the bankrupt Railtrack). The organising body of National Rail is ATOC - the Association of Train Operating Companies. Previously British Rail was the UK state rail operator, and National Rail continues to use BR's old logo.
Passenger train services are mainly run by franchises named after the area they serve (eg South Central, Great Western, etc.), but railtour operators and freight distribution companies (such as Freightliner and EWS) also exist.
