well as banks, investors and international development agencies. Assignments undertaken range from day-to-day engineering and technical support, through to management of major projects such as new train procurement and strategic support to bidders for passenger rail franchises. In November 2015, SNC-Lavalin Rail & Transit in partnership with Arup Group and Ernst & Young was appointed by the Department for Transport as its operator of last resort to takeover the operations of any train operating company in the United Kingdom at short notice should it be required. This function used to be handled by Directly Operated Railways. In June 2018, the partnership trading as London North Eastern Railway took over the InterCity East Coast franchise from Virgin Trains East Coast. References Post-privatisation British railway companies Railway companies established in 1994 Railway companies of the United Kingdom Service companies of the United Kingdom 1994 establishments in England