Home: April / May 2012 › Pre-qualified franchise bidders

Pre-qualified franchise bidders

20/04/2012 | Channel: Franchises

Improvements for rail passengers under Government franchise plans came a step closer as the bidders to run services were announced by Rail Minister Theresa Villiers.

A total of 13 firms are in the running to become the next operators of the Great Western, Thameslink and Essex Thameside rail franchises and introduce better train services, safer stations and more convenient ways to buy tickets.

The firms bidding to take over the franchises have been chosen following a pre-qualification process.

Bidders for Great Western franchise:
  • First Great Western Trains Limited (FirstGroup plc)
  • GW Trains Limited (Arriva UK Trains Limited – DB (UK) Investments Limited)
  • NXGW Trains Limited (National Express Group PLC)
  • Stagecoach Great Western Trains Limited (Stagecoach Group plc)
These potential providers will receive the Invitation to Tender which is anticipated will be issued in May 2012. It is anticipated that the successful bidder will be announced in December 2012, with the contract commencing in April 2013. The length of the franchise term will be 15 years.

Bidders for Essex Thameside franchise:
  • Abellio Essex Thameside Limited (NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen)
  • First Essex Thameside Limited (FirstGroup plc)
  • MTR Corporation (Essex Thameside) Limited (MTR Corporation Limited)
  • NXET Trains Limited (National Express Group PLC)
These potential providers will receive the Invitation to Tender which is anticipated will be issued in June 2012. It is anticipated the successful bidder will be announced in January 2013, with the contract commencing in May 2013. The length of the franchise term will be 15 years.

Bidders for Thameslink franchise:
  • Abellio Thameslink Limited (NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen)
  • First Thameslink Limited (FirstGroup plc)
  • Govia Thameslink Railway Limited (Go-Ahead Group plc and Keolis SA)
  • MTR Corporation (Thameslink) Limited (MTR Corporation Limited)
  • Stagecoach Thameslink Trains Limited (Stagecoach Group plc)
These potential providers will receive the Invitation to Tender which is anticipated will be issued in October 2012. It is anticipated that the successful bidder will be announced in May 2013, with the contract commencing in September 2013. The length of the franchise will be a minimum of seven years, with pricing also required for a potential extension of up to two years at the discretion of the Secretary of State.