| | 
Archive
2014-07-16 DfT-003
Department for Transport
Rail franchising: 16 July 2014
keywords: click to search
 franchising
notes
Patrick McLoughlin
Words in [single square brackets] included hyperlinks in the original document
Words in [[double square brackets]] are editorial additions or corrections
Words in [[[triple square brackets]]] indicate embedded images or graphics in the original document. (These are not usually archived unless they contain significant additional information.)
< operators’ contracts index
| | |
Written statement
Department for Transport
Rail franchising: 16 July 2014
Essex Thameside franchise awarded NXET Trains Limited.
The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP
On 27th June 2014 my department announced its intention to award the Essex Thameside franchise to NXET Trains Limited (National Express), pending the successful completion of a standstill period. I am happy to confirm to the House that this standstill period has ended and we completed the contract after the markets closed on 15th July. This means that NXET Trains Limited (under their brand name c2c) can begin the mobilisation process that will mean the new franchise will begin in November this year.
The contract will run for 15 years and will allow the company to build on the impressive performance of the franchise and deliver a host of passenger benefits, worth around £160 million. The Essex Thameside franchise provides vital commuter services to millions of passengers every year travelling between London and the commuter hubs of Barking, Basildon, Southend. The new franchise will see c2c provide more capacity and a new fleet of trains during the franchise. The 17 new trains will provide almost 4,800 extra seats, on top of the 25,000 additional seats for morning peak time passengers c2c has committed to provide every week by the end of the contract.
More than £30 million will be invested in improving stations during the franchise, including at the major hubs of Fenchurch Street and Barking. The operator will also provide free wi-fi, smart ticketing and better customer information that will all improve the experience for passengers on the busy route. This franchise will also see an enhanced delay repay scheme including automatic repayment for passengers with smart tickets, a first for the railway in Great Britain.
The successful award of this contract shows the continuing success of my franchising programme. A programme that is seeing real benefits for passengers and taxpayers.
Railnews Archive ::: 2014-07-16 DfT-003
| | | |
| | |
