Northern plays a vital role in the north of England by connecting tens of thousands of people to work, leisure, education and more every day. Northern Trains Limited is owned by DfT Operator (formerly DOHL), which took on the operation of Northern services on 1 March 2020. DfT Operator has responsibility for four rail companies, LNER, Northern Trains Limited, TransPennine Trains and SE Trains (‘Southeastern’). DfT Operator is committed to working closely with all aspects of the rail industry to ensure the continued provision of critical passenger rail services.