§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on the rail franchise renewal process; [55770]
(2) if he will list the bidders who have pre-qualified for rail franchise applications. [55771]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan, published on 14 January, includes a report on its franchising programme. A new Chiltern franchise was signed on 18 February. The table lists the parties currently pre-qualified for franchises.
Franchise/Pre-qualified parties
Merseyrail Electrics
- Arriva Trains Ltd.
- Connex Transport UK Ltd.
- Serco Ltd.
- Transdev plc jointly with RATP International
- NS/Dutch Railways
- Keolis SA
Northern128W
- Arriva Trains Ltd.
- FirstGroup plc jointly with Keolis SA
- National Express Group plc
- Connex Transport UK Ltd.
- GB Railways Group plc
- Serco Ltd.
Wales and Borders
- Arriva Trains Ltd.
- Connex Transport UK Ltd.
- FirstGroup plc
- GB Railways Group plc
- National Express Group plc
- NS/Dutch Railways
- Serco Ltd.
- Keolis SA
TransPennine Express (best and final offers stage)
- Arriva Trains Ltd.
- Connex Transport UK Ltd.
- Keolis SA with First Group plc.