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Archive
2002-05-14 SRA-001
Strategic Rail Authority
Keen interest in new Merseyrail agreement
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Press release
Strategic Rail Authority
Keen interest in new Merseyrail agreement
The Strategic Rail Authority and Merseytravel have pre-qualified six parties as
bidders for the new Merseyrail Electrics Agreement, to operate local
passenger rail services in the Merseyside area following the expiry of the
current Arriva Trains Merseyside franchise in February 2003.
The parties are:
Arriva Trains Limited (incumbent franchisee)
Connex Transport UK Ltd
Serco Limited
TRANSDEV plc jointly with RATP International
NS/Dutch Railways
Keolis SA
All six bidders are required to submit initial proposals for the contract by 28
June 2002. A Parliamentary Order is being taken forward for the Merseyrail
Electrics services to be exempt from the SRA's franchise responsibilities,
allowing Merseytravel to let the services as a local concession. The SRA and
Merseytravel are jointly running a competition to select an operator for the
Merseyrail Electrics services.
SRA Chairman Richard Bowker said:
"I am very pleased with the level of interest, including overseas operators, in
this important urban rail operation. The SRA will be working closely with
Merseytravel to assess the proposals put forward by the six bidders, with a
view to developing standards of service and performance on the Merseyrail
Electrics network."
Chair of Merseytravel, Mark Dowd said:
"We're delighted with the progress we're making with the SRA on the future of
the Merseyrail Electrics network which is so important to many thousands of
people in our region."
Notes to Editors
1. The Merseyrail Electrics franchise includes passenger rail services
between Liverpool and Southport, Ormskirk, Kirkby, Hunts Cross, New
Brighton, West Kirby, Chester and Ellesmere Port. The services are currently
operated by Arriva Trains Merseyside, the greater part of which are supported
by, and operate to, the specification of Merseytravel (the Merseyside PTA and
PTE).
2. The self contained nature of the network, the services and the market it
serves means that the Merseyrail Electrics network is uniquely suited to
greater local control and accountability. There are no plans to transfer
responsibilities for other franchises.
3. TRANSDEV plc is a public operator of bus, coach, tram and light rail. It
operates primarily in France, but also have interests in Notti ngham (new light
rail) and London (London United Busways). RATP International is a
subsidiary of RATP, the Paris Transit Authority.
Railnews Archive ::: 2002-05-14 SRA-001
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