EAST coast main line operator National Express is among four runners in the race for a major franchise deal to run South-East rail services, it was revealed today.
National Express, Stagecoach, Govia - a joint venture between Go-Ahead and Keolis - and NedRailways will contest the new South Central franchise, the Department for Transport said.
The new deal will include the existing Southern franchise and Gatw
ick Express services, as well as the Tonbridge to Redhill route currently under the Southeastern franchise. Govia is the current operator of Southern services.
National Express's rail franchises include the East Coast London-Leeds-Scotland route - which it took over from GNER - and East Anglia, while Perth-based Stagecoach runs East Midlands and South West routes.
Dutch firm NedRailways runs MerseyRail and Northern services in tandem with UK-based Serco, while Govia also runs Southeastern and London Midland trains alongside the Southern franchise.
In 2006/07, Gatwick Express and Southern combined collected over £400m in revenue and accounted for over 140m passenger journeys, but a DfT consultation on the new franchise said overcrowding remains a problem on peak-time trains.
The eventual winner of the South Central deal will operate trains in south London and parts of Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire - and have to help increase capacity by around 10 per cent overall.
Other planned improvements include the introduction of Oyster-style smartcards throughout the franchise area, safer stations, later running services, as well as better reliability and environmental performance.
Rail minister Tom Harris said: "We look forward to seeing strong bids from each of the competitors for this important franchise.
The successful firm is expected to be announced in early summer 2009 with the deal running until July 2015, although the DfT can decide to extend the franchise for up to two years depending on performance levels.
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