1 6 – 2 0 2 0 ▁▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁In ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁First Group ▁trad ing ▁as ▁Trans P enn ine ▁Express ▁comm enced ▁operating ▁the ▁Trans P enn ine ▁Express ▁in ▁its ▁own ▁right , ▁previously ▁having ▁done ▁so ▁in ▁a ▁joint ▁vent ure ▁with ▁Ke olis . ▁On ▁the ▁same ▁date , ▁Ar riv a ▁Rail ▁North ▁comm enced ▁operating ▁the ▁Northern ▁franch ise . ▁ ▁In ▁November ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁Ar riv a ▁Rail ▁London ▁took ▁over ▁the ▁London ▁Over ground ▁con cess ion ▁from ▁London ▁Over ground ▁Rail ▁Oper ations . ▁▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁In ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁Ab elli o ▁sold ▁a ▁ 4 0 % ▁share ▁in ▁Ab elli o ▁Gre ater ▁Ang lia ▁to ▁M its ui . ▁ ▁In ▁August ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁a ▁First Group / M TR ▁joint ▁vent ure ▁trad ing ▁as ▁South ▁Western ▁Railway ▁comm enced ▁operating ▁the ▁South ▁Western ▁franch ise . ▁ ▁In ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁an ▁Ab elli o , ▁East ▁Japan ▁Railway ▁Company ▁and ▁M its ui ▁joint ▁vent ure ▁trad ing ▁as ▁West ▁Mid lands ▁Tra ins ▁comm enced ▁operating ▁the ▁West ▁Mid lands ▁franch ise . ▁▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁In ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁the ▁Government ▁announced ▁that ▁Virgin ▁Tra ins ▁East ▁Coast ' s ▁contract ▁would ▁be ▁terminated ▁early ▁due ▁to ▁financial ▁difficulties . ▁