THE first operator of high speed trains between Birmingham and London will also run the West Coast Mainline franchise, the Government has announced.
The new franchise – the West Coast Partnership – will be responsible for services on both the West Coast Main Line from 2019 and designing and running the initial high speed services from 2026.
HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins said: “This is a real opportunity to ensure HS2 services complement and enhance existing ones. I have always been clear HS2 will not be a standalone railway but fully integrated with the wider network.”
The timetable the Government has set for the West Coast Partnership means it will need to agree a one-year contract with an operator for the West Coast Mainline, which the current franchise due to end in 2018.
The formal expression of interest for the West Coast Partnership is due to be published in December, followed by the invitation to tender next autumn. The new franchise is scheduled to start in April 2019 and will run for up to the first five years of HS2’s operation.
HS2 trains are planned to begin operating to Birmingham in 2026, before the second phase of development take the trains north to Manchester and Leeds by 2033.
The partnership approach means the winning bidder will collaborate with HS2 Ltd to design, launch and operate the initial HS2 services and deliver the transition of the timetable on the West Coast Main Line as it is revised to take advantage of the extra capacity provided by HS2.
Transport minister Andrew Jones added: “By combining the franchise we are ensuring we get the right people on board at an early stage to design and manage the running of both services in the transition stage.
“The new franchise will attract highly experienced companies, who have the right experience, which ultimately means a better deal for passengers – both now and in the future.”
The completion of the first phase of HS2 will nearly triple the number of seats at rush hour from 11,000 to around 30,000. The majority of intercity trains will run on the high speed network, allowing more commuter services to run on the West Coast line.
