The East Midlands rail franchise competition has a new entrant on the shortlist
Posted: 1 March 2017 | | 1 comment
The Department of Transport has shortlisted First Trenitalia East Midlands Rail Limited in the East Midlands rail franchise competition.
The Department of Transport has shortlisted First Trenitalia East Midlands Rail Limited in the East Midlands rail franchise competition.
First Trenitalia East Midlands Rail Limited is a joint venture between FirstGroup plc (‘FirstGroup’) and Trenitalia UK Limited (‘Trenitalia’). FirstGroup is the leading transport operator in the UK and North America, while Trenitalia is a passenger rail transportation company with an increasing international presence. Both companies hold ‘Pre-Qualification Questionnaire Passports’ with DfT Rail Executive which shows that they have satisfied basic financial and other competence criteria which allows them to submit franchise bids to the Government.
“Both [FirstGroup] and Trenitalia have extensive expertise of running commuter, regional and long distance services”
“We are partnering with Trenitalia to bid for the upcoming East Midlands rail franchise,” said Steve Montgomery, First Rail Managing Director. “Both ourselves and Trenitalia have extensive expertise of running commuter, regional and long distance services such as those that make up the East Midlands franchise.”
Commenting further, Barbara Morgante, CEO of Trenitalia, commented: “We believe that the experience, competence, innovation and skills of Trenitalia and FirstGroup, developed in international markets, represent a perfect mix to run the East Midlands franchise together.”
The next East Midlands franchise is due to start in November 2018 and will encompass major infrastructure enhancements and improvements in the franchise area.
I hope all the bidders will press for an accelerated rate of electrification on the MML and its links to the ECML via Doncaster and Leeds. This would light up the economies of the major cities in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. UK government seems to be dithering over this project and has done for years and thereby held back the economies of these regions. The electrification project needs to be developed irrespective of HS2 and not delayed on a “jam tomorrow” basis.