Three bids on the table to run trains in East Midlands
THREE companies have been shortlisted to take on the future franchise of trains servicing Hinckley.
The Government announced the firms which are vying to run the East Midlands section of the Midland Mainline.
A bid from current operator Stagecoach Group is going up against Arriva Rail East Midlands and First Trenitalia East Midlands Rail Ltd - a joint venture company owned by UK-based First Rail Holdings Limited and Italian-owned business Trenitalia.
Once the ‘Invitation to tender’ has been issued bidders will submit plans to demonstrate how they will deliver enhancements for passengers using the East Midland services.
The East Midlands franchise incorporates intercity and regional passenger services, with around 470 train services a day and an annual 26 million passengers.
It includes intercity train services on the Midland Main Line linking Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield with London St Pancras as well as a network of local lines and services to Luton Airport Parkway and East Midlands Parkway stations.
Stagecoach has operated the network under the East Midlands Trains brand since 2007. It has a licence to run the franchise until 2018, although the Government is open to extending that to allow for any transitional period.
Stagecoach Group chief executive Martin Griffiths said the firm was consistently the most punctual long-distance train operator in the country.
He added: “The railway in the East Midlands is crucial to the regional economy. There is a huge opportunity to build on the network’s success to create new jobs, build the skills of our people and improve connectivity across the region.”
The Department for Transport has started consulting with passengers, businesses and local councils on the specification for the new franchise.
It has yet to confirm the length of the new contract, although it is likely to be between seven and 15 years.
Area MPs, local councils and business lobby groups have been campaigning for the electrification of the Midlands Mainline for years to help boost the East Midlands economy, offer faster and more efficient journey times to London and link up more effectively to the west and north.