Following privatisation Northern Spirit (later Arriva Trains Northern, and subsequently Northern Rail in 2004) was created from Regional Railways North East.
Northern Spirit inherited a large fleet of Class 158 units, many of which were used on TransPennine Express services, with others used on West Yorkshire Metro-sponsored services.
First North Western (descended from Regional Railways North West) had eight Class 158s, which were based at Newton Heath and used on various mid- to long-distance routes, which were transferred to Leeds Neville Hill depot to join the rest of the 158 fleet at the start of the Northern Rail franchise.
 A number of 158s are currently sponsored by Merseytravel despite the fact that they do not go near Merseyside.
 This sponsorship is to ensure that Class 156s were cascaded from West Yorkshire to the busiest Merseyside services.

In 2006, First TransPennine Express started to replace its Class 158s with newer Class 185 Desiro and Class 170 Turbostar units.
The Class 158s were subsequently transferred to Northern Rail, Central Trains, South West Trains and First Great Western.

Following a franchise change, all Northern units were passed to Arriva Rail North in April 2016.
Northern has recently completed a refurbishment programme on the three-car Class 158 DMUs and is continuing to refurbish its fleet of two-car Class 158 DMUs.

In 2018, Northern acquired an additional 8 Class 158 units from Abellio Scotrail; the first few units transferring in February 2018 with the remainder in December 2018.

On 1 March 2020, the units transferred to new operator Northern Trains.
Following privatisation Northern Spirit (later Arriva Trains Northern, and subsequently Northern Rail in 2004) was created from Regional Railways North East. Northern Spirit inherited a large fleet of Class 158 units, many of which were used on TransPennine Express services, with others used on West Yorkshire Metro-sponsored services. First North Western (descended from Regional Railways North West) had eight Class 158s, which were based at Newton Heath and used on various mid- to long-distance routes, which were transferred to Leeds Neville Hill depot to join the rest of the 158 fleet at the start of the Northern Rail franchise.  A number of 158s are currently sponsored by Merseytravel despite the fact that they do not go near Merseyside.  This sponsorship is to ensure that Class 156s were cascaded from West Yorkshire to the busiest Merseyside services.
In 2006, First TransPennine Express started to replace its Class 158s with newer Class 185 Desiro and Class 170 Turbostar units. The Class 158s were subsequently transferred to Northern Rail, Central Trains, South West Trains and First Great Western.
Following a franchise change, all Northern units were passed to Arriva Rail North in April 2016. Northern has recently completed a refurbishment programme on the three-car Class 158 DMUs and is continuing to refurbish its fleet of two-car Class 158 DMUs.
In 2018, Northern acquired an additional 8 Class 158 units from Abellio Scotrail; the first few units transferring in February 2018 with the remainder in December 2018.
On 1 March 2020, the units transferred to new operator Northern Trains.
British Rail Class 158