Following a period of privatised operations carried out by Virgin Trains East Coast, the InterCity East Coast franchise was re-nationalised. The new operator, named LNER in reference to operator of train services in the area between 1923 and 1948, is owned by the Department for Transport and currently awarded the franchise until at least 2025. LNER inherited a large fleet of IC 125 and IC 225 sets, but quickly began replacing the ageing stock with more modern Hitachi built high-speed multiple units. The last IC 125 train operated by LNER ran as part of a farewell tour at the end of 2019.