▁In ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁T f L ▁Rail ▁took ▁over ▁the ▁He ath row ▁Connect ▁Services , ▁which ▁led ▁to ▁the ▁introduction ▁of ▁O yst er ▁and ▁Contact less ▁payment ▁to ▁He ath row ▁Airport ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁on ▁National ▁Rail . ▁ ▁In ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁the ▁company ▁was ▁replaced ▁by ▁the ▁government ▁owned ▁London ▁North ▁Eastern ▁Railway . ▁▁ ▁In ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁Transport ▁for ▁Wales ▁took ▁over ▁the ▁Wales ▁& ▁B orders ▁franch ise ▁from ▁Ar riv a ▁Tra ins ▁Wales . ▁▁ 2 0 1 9 ▁In ▁August ▁ 2 0 1 9 ▁East ▁Mid lands ▁Railway ▁took ▁over ▁the ▁East ▁Mid lands ▁franch ise ▁from ▁East ▁Mid lands ▁Tra ins . ▁▁ ▁In ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁Av anti ▁West ▁Coast ▁began ▁operating ▁the ▁new ▁West ▁Coast ▁Part ners hip ▁replacing ▁Virgin ▁Tra ins ▁( Inter City ▁West ▁Coast ). ▁▁ 2 0 2 0 ▁On ▁ 1 ▁March ▁ 2 0 2 0 , ▁operation ▁of ▁the ▁Northern ▁franch ise ▁transferred ▁from ▁Ar riv a ▁Rail ▁North ▁to ▁the ▁government - owned ▁Northern ▁Tra ins . ▁ ▁Current ▁TO C s ▁ ▁As ▁of ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁there ▁are ▁ 2 4 ▁train ▁operating ▁companies . ▁ ▁Fran ch ised ▁ ▁Av anti ▁West ▁Coast ▁ ▁Ab elli o ▁Scot R ail ▁ ▁c 2 c ▁ ▁C aled onian ▁S le eper ▁ ▁Ch il tern