This list contains railway companies currently operating in Germany. It includes railway units that are not independent legal entities. Federal railways and private railway companies with their headquarters abroad are given their authority to operate by the Federal Railway Office (Eisenbahn-Bundesamt). All other private railway companies are authorised by the responsible authorities of the states in which they have their headquarters. Names of all railway companies have been left in German. For railway companies that are no longer in existence, see the List of former German railway companies.