One of the three passenger sectors of British Rail created in 1982 that existed until 1996, two years after privatisation. Originally called Provincial, the passenger sectors created were InterCity (principal express services) and Network SouthEast (mainly London commuter services); Provincial was responsible for all other passenger services, except in the metropolitan counties. Prior to privatisation the Regional Railways sector was split into several different franchises (Anglia Railways, Central Trains, Merseyrail Electrics, North West Regional Railways, Regional Railways Northeast, ScotRail and Wales and West) ready for privatisation in 1994.