Bidding process begins for East Coast rail franchise

A COMPETITION to find a private sector operator of the East Coast rail franchise has been launched today.

Unveiling new plans to drive improvements to rail services and deliver on major infrastructure projects, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has announced the immediate start of the competition for the East Coast franchise.

The franchise is presently run by state-owned DOR. East Coast Main Line, a subsidiary of DOR, has been responsible for services on the route since taking over the franchise from National Express in November 2009.

It is expected that the new franchisee will carry its first passengers by February 2015. The route runs from London to Scotland and passes through Yorkshire, stopping at Doncaster, Leeds, Wakefield and York stations.

Rail franchising was halted last year after a decision to award the UK’s West Coast Main Line rail franchise to FirstGroup was scrapped.

Mr McLoughlin also published for the first time this morning a detailed timetable for all rail franchises over the next eight years.

It is hoped the new approach to franchising will provide long-term certainty to the market; support the Department for Transport’s programme of rail investment; and deliver on the independent Brown Review of rail reform ahead of the April deadline for implementation of its recommendations.

Mr McLoughlin said: “This programme is a major step in delivering tangible improvements to services, providing long-term certainty to the market and supporting our huge programme of rail investment.

“Above all, in future franchise competitions we are placing passengers in the driving seat by ensuring that their views and satisfaction levels are taken into account when deciding which companies run our railway services.

“Franchising has been a force for good in the story of Britain’s railways, transforming an industry that was in decline into one that today carries record numbers of passengers.”