The joint venture is the train operating company of the Merseyrail franchise since July 2003 in the Liverpool City Region.

[1][2] In July 2004, Serco-NedRailways was awarded the Northern Rail franchise for six years and nine months from December 2004 with a two-year extension subject to performance targets being achieved.

[3][4] In May 2010, the Department for Transport confirmed that Northern Rail had met the performance targets and the franchise was extended for two years until September 2013.

[18][19] Abellio was shortlisted for the London Overground, South Central, Greater Anglia, InterCity West Coast, Essex Thameside and Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchises in its own right.

Full regulatory approval was received in February 2023, so Abellio became Transport UK Group (TUK).