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West Midlands Trains
Abellio Transport Group Ltd (70.1%), JREM Train (29.9%)
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West Midlands Trains
expired franchise
replaced
< London Midland
was replaced by
West Midlands Trains NRC >
start date
10 December 2017
end date
19 September 2021
owned by
Abellio Transport Group Ltd (70.1%), JREM Train (29.9%)
legal title
West Midlands Trains Limited
description
This franchise operated under two brands. One was West Midlands Railways for local services in the West Midlands. The other was London Northwestern Railway for main line services from London Euston to Northampton and Birmingham, and also for branch lines from Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey (the Abbey Line) and from Bletchley to Bedford (the Marston Vale Line).
The shortlisted bidders (7 April 2016) were (1) Abellio (70.1%) with JREM Train (29.9%) (Japan East Railway Corporation 50% and Mitsui & Co. Ltd 50%) (2) Govia and (3) MTR.
MTR withdrew from the competition in June 2016.
Franchise award was due June 2017, but was deferred by the DfT on 17 July 2017.
The choice of the Abellio/JREM Train joint venture as preferred bidder was announced 10 August 2017. The end date of April 2026 could have been extended by up to 26 reporting periods [2 years].
The terms of the franchise were changed in March 2020, when the first Emergency Measures Agreements were introduced. English franchises were abolished in September 2020, when a replacement Emergency Measures Recovery Agreement started.
A new National Rail Contract began on 19 September 2021.
service area
Commuter and regional services (London Northwestern Railway): London Euston-Milton Keynes Central-Northampton-Rugby-Coventry-Birmingham New Street/Crewe-Liverpool Lime Street. West Midlands local services (West Midlands Railway). Local services Bletchley-Bedford (until start of East West franchise or equivalent); Watford Jn-St Albans Abbey
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