Construction of railways and underground railways Companies in the UK

SIC 42120Construction|63.1% formed since 2020|Data updated 17 Apr 2026
2,578
Active

There are 2,578 active companies in the construction of railways and underground railways sector in the UK (SIC code 42120). This sector falls under Section F — Construction — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 0.3% dissolution rate — 2,578 of 3,893 registrations remain active. Recent formation activity is notable, with 63.1% of current companies established in the 2020s. 145% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 6.6 years. London leads with 20% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 134 government contracts valued at £1.6B.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, April 2026

2,578
Active Companies
F
SIC Section
1930
Oldest Company
63.1%
Growth (2020s)
6.6 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 63.1% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
59%
37%
Pre-1990: 7
1990s: 23
2000s: 114
2010s: 2,299
2020s: 1,450

Data Signals

Governance
7,9445 src
Financial
4,65110 src
Compliance
97810 src
Risk
4147 src
growth
1352 src
ESG
795 src
Trade
451 src
operational
181 src
innovation
172 src
quality
113 src
corporate_structure
11 src

Sector Overview

The construction of railways and underground railways sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">0.3% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 6.6 years old. Geographic concentration: 20% in LONDON.

0.3%
Dissolution rate
6.6 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 8 (28%)Medium: 2 (7%)Large: 19 (66%)

Government Activity

Companies in the construction of railways and underground railways sector have been awarded 134 government contracts worth £1583.7M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many construction of railways and underground railways companies are there in the UK?

There are 2,578 active companies classified under SIC code 42120 (Construction of railways and underground railways) in the UK, out of 3,893 total registered.

What is SIC code 42120?

SIC code 42120 stands for "Construction of railways and underground railways". It belongs to Section F — Construction of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.

Where are most construction of railways and underground railways companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (527), SIDCUP (41), DONCASTER (39).

What is the average age of construction of railways and underground railways companies?

The average active construction of railways and underground railways company in the UK is 6.6 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1930.

What government data is available for construction of railways and underground railways companies?

Our database contains 14,293 data signals across 11 categories for active construction of railways and underground railways companies. The largest category is Governance with 7,944 signals from 5 government sources.

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Data is updated daily from official UK government sources including Companies House. Information is provided for reference only.