TIDMSGC
RNS Number : 1751Y
Stagecoach Group PLC
01 March 2017
1 March 2017
EAST MIDLANDS RAIL FRANCHISE
Stagecoach Group plc ("Stagecoach") is pleased to confirm that
it has been shortlisted by the Department for Transport ("DfT") to
receive an Invitation to Tender for the new East Midlands rail
franchise.
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. A network of local lines serves
destinations such as Grantham, Lincoln and Mansfield. The franchise
also provides services to Luton Airport and East Midlands
Parkway.
Stagecoach, which has operated the network under the East
Midlands Trains brand since 2007, is one of three bidders to have
pre-qualified for the new franchise.
The Invitation to Tender ("ITT") for the franchise is expected
to be published in the next few months. The new franchise is due to
start in 2018 when the current East Midlands Trains contract comes
to an end.
Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Martin Griffiths said: "We are
proud of our track record over the past decade of investment and
working in partnership with Network Rail, local authorities and
other stakeholders to transform rail services for customers,
becoming consistently the most punctual long-distance train
operator in the country. We have achieved that by putting customers
at the heart of everything we do and giving our people the tools to
do the job.
"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. We can also leverage our
experience of bringing train and track closer together to develop
plans that deliver a better customer experience to today's
passengers and those we attract in the future.
"We look forward to working with local stakeholders on shaping
our plans which will also deliver significant value to the taxpayer
to reinvest in public services."
The DfT 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 the DFT has
indicated it is likely to be between seven and 15 years.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Analysts
Ross Paterson, Finance Director 01738 442111
Bruce Dingwall, Group Financial Controller 01738 442111
Media
Steven Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications 01738 442111 or 07764 774680
Notes to Editors
Stagecoach Group
-- Stagecoach is an international public transport group, with
operations in the UK, mainland Europe, the United States and
Canada. The Group employs around 40,000 people, and operates around
13,000 buses, coaches, trains and trams.
-- Stagecoach is one of the UK's biggest bus and coach operators
with around 8,500 buses and coaches on a network stretching from
south-west England to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
Low-cost coach service, megabus.com, operates a network of
inter-city services across the UK. We also operate some contracted
coach services in mainland Europe.
-- Stagecoach is a major UK rail operator, running the South
West Trains, Island Line and East Midlands Trains networks. It also
has a 49% shareholding in Virgin Rail Group, which operates the
West Coast rail franchise, and a 90% shareholding in Virgin Trains
East Coast, which operates the East Coast rail franchise.
-- Stagecoach operates the Supertram light rail network in
Sheffield.
-- In North America, Stagecoach operates around 2,300 buses and
coaches in the United States and Canada. megabus.com operates a
network of inter-city coach services in North America. Stagecoach
is also involved in operating commuter, transit, contracted,
charter, airport shuttle and sightseeing services.
-- For further information, go to www.stagecoach.com.
East Midlands Trains
Since November 2007, East Midlands Trains has delivered a major
programme of improvements for customers, including:
-- Most punctual long distance train operator over seven
consecutive years
-- Worked successfully with Network Rail to complete a GBP100m
re-signalling project at Nottingham
-- Completed a major improvement scheme at Nottingham station to
create a new world-class transport hub
-- Opened new stations at East Midlands Parkway and Corby
-- Faster journey times to London and launched a second hourly
service between Sheffield and London
-- Secured additional trains to provide extra capacity on the
Norwich-Liverpool route and extra services between Nottingham and
Lincoln
-- Launched free WiFi at 30 stations and opened a new 24/7
customer contact centre
-- Completed a GBP30m refurbishment of every train in the
fleet
-- Customers and communities have benefitted from more than
GBP300m worth of station improvements.
Now carrying more than 26 million people every year, East
Midlands Trains is also part-way through a programme of GBP13
million worth of investment in its current franchise. This includes
the roll-out of free WiFi across all London train services;
improved compensation systems with fast access to compensation for
delays of over 30 minutes, better passenger assistance with the
booking time reduced by half; station improvements including more
cycle spaces, better car parking, easier access to tickets and
improved information; investment in training and recruitment to
give customers the best service possible and more cleaning staff at
stations and on trains.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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