GWR and Southeastern given direct awards by DfT

THE Department for Transport has made direct awards to both GWR and Southeastern to continue running their franchises.

Govia has secured an extension to run Southeastern until

October 16, 2021, but with the on-going uncertainty with franchising long term, there is an option to extend the franchise until March 31, 2022.

First Group will carry on running services for GWR until March 31, 2023, with an option for a further year’s extension.

The new deals will run concurrently with the Emergency Measures Agreement (EMA), in which DfT takes the franchisee’s revenue and cost risk for at least a six-month period, but will pay train operators a fixed management fee.

■ The 30 five-car Class 707 EMUs currently in use with South Western Railway will transfer to Southeastern. A company spokesman said the trains were unwanted by SWR, which ordered 90 Class 701 ‘Aventra’ trains from Bombardier, and form part of the direct award.