DfT announces winner of Greater Western and Thameslink/GN franchises

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Stock Market statement

For immediate release: 07.00 13th December 2005

The Department for Transport today announced that First Group has been awarded contracts to run the Greater Western franchise and the Thameslink/GN franchise from 01 April 2006.

The Greater Western franchise brings together services on the national rail network currently operated by First Great Western, First Great Western Link and Wessex Trains.

In addition to the specification outlined in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) First Group has also committed to retain:

  • The London - Penzance overnight sleeper service
  • The London - Cardiff off-peak half-hourly service
  • The current level of off-peak mainline stops at Slough

The franchise will provide over £200m investment in the early years of the franchise. This will include a complete redesign of the high speed fleet that together with the new timetable will increase the number of standard class seats on trains between London and Reading in the morning and evening peak periods by more than 20% and 30% respectively.

It will also fund a programme of station enhancements, including better customer information systems, passenger security measures including CCTV and 1700 new car parking spaces at stations. Additional revenue protection staff and community support officers will also be provided.

First Group also expects to improve performance and reliability so that 9 out of 10 trains run on time by 2011/12.

For the Greater Western Franchise, First Group has undertaken to pay DfT a premium of £1,131m over 10 years. The franchise contract is for ten years with the final three years dependent on service performance achieving preset targets.

Thameslink/GN franchise combines the current Thameslink and Great Northern franchises into one.

First Group will improve the timing and capacity of services to Bedford and over £40m of private sector investment will be made in the first three years. This will help improve the reliability and quality of the rolling stock, improve stations and provide 600 additional car parking spaces. First Group has also committed to continual performance improvements throughout the life of the franchise.

For the Thameslink/GN franchise First Group has undertaken to pay DfT a premium of £808m, assuming the franchise runs for its full term of 9 years. At the end of the fourth year the franchise will automatically continue for 2 years if service performance targets are met. Subject to DfT's agreement, the franchise can then continue for up to three further years. This flexibility is necessary to facilitate works on the Thameslink 2000 programme which was subject to a public inquiry under the Transport and Works Act.

Ends

Notes to editors

  1. The Greater Western franchise brings together three existing franchises into one. This decision was announced by the SRA in November 2002 following a formal consultation exercise.
  2. The three parties invited to bid for GW were First Group, National Express Group and Stagecoach Group.
  3. The incumbent franchisee for the Thameslink franchise is Thameslink, and for Great Northern WAGN.
  4. The five parties invited to bid for Thameslink/GN are National Express Group plc, First Group plc, Stagecoach Group, MTR/Laing (a joint venture between MTR Corporation of Hong Kong and Laing Rail, a subsidiary of John Laing plc) and DSB/EWS (a consortium of Danish state railways and English Welsh and Scottish Railways).

For further information please contact the Department for Transport press office on 020 7944 3108.