HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Passenger Rail Franchises – 2021 Update [December 2001]

Franchise

Franchise Termination Date

Descriptions

Proposal

Anglia Railways

April 2004

Anglia Railways operate main line trains between London, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich, London Crosslink, local trains across Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Cambridgeshire. Its trains mainly serve business and leisure travellers, as well as daily commuters into London.

To form part of the ‘Greater Anglia (East Anglia) franchise from 2004. Local management unit for Norfolk and Suffolk to be based in Norwich.

Arriva Trains Merseyside

February 2003

Arriva Trains Merseyside operate passenger rail services between Liverpool and Southport, Ormskirk, Kirkby, Hunts Cross, New Brighton, West Kirby, Chester and Ellesmere Port. The greater part of Arriva Trains Merseyside’s services are supported by, and operate to, the specification of, Merseytravel (Merseyside PTE).

Discussions are under way regarding a potential transfer of responsibility to Merseyside PTE. Tendering process for new franchise to run in parallel with the transfer process.

Arriva Trains Northern

February 2003

Arriva Trains Northern operates rural and inter-urban services throughout North East England, between destinations stretching from Chathill to Chesterfield and from Blackpool to Cleethorpes. Some of these services are supported by, and operate to the specification of, the West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Tyne and Wear (Nexus) PTEs.

Regional services to form part of the Northern franchise. Tendering process expected to start early in 2002. Local management units to be established for PTE areas.

Transpennine services to be transferred to a new TransPennine Express franchise (franchising in progress).

Cardiff Railway Company

April 2004

Cardiff Railway operates between Cardiff and the Valleys to the North and Barry and Penarth to the South. From October 2001, services within the Cardiff Railway franchise transferred to the new ‘Wales and Borders Trains’ operation (ownership unchanged).

Now part of the new Wales & Borders franchise. Tendering process to start early in 2002.

C2C

May 2011

c2c operates an intensive, mainly commuter, service into London Fenchurch Street from south east Essex.

No change proposed.

Central Trains

April 2004

Central Trains operates an extensive network of rural, urban and inter-urban services right across the Midlands, as well as into Central and South Wales and East Anglia. In the West Midlands local services are supported by Centro (West Midlands PTE).

Possible two year extension to be negotiated, aimed at achieving early increases in capacity.

Chiltern Railways

July 2003

Chiltern Railways operate passenger train services throughout the M40 corridor between Birmingham and London. Their passengers are a mix of commuters, business and leisure travellers.

Heads of Terms agreed on new 20 year franchise. Variation of existing franchise already agreed to underpin new train orders.

South Central

May 2003

South Central operates predominantly commuter services to London from Surrey and Sussex, as well as services to Gatwick and Brighton and South Coast services between Bournemouth, Brighton, Hastings and Ashford.

Heads of Terms agreed for new 20 year franchise. Residual term of existing franchise transferred from Connex to Go-Via. SPV being developed for major infrastructure work.

Connex South Eastern

October 2011

Connex South Eastern operates predominantly commuter services between central London and the south east London suburbs, the whole of Kent and part of Sussex.

Possible two year extension to be negotiated, aimed at providing longer (12-car) trains on routes to Dartford to cater for growth.

CrossCountry

March 2012

CrossCountry operates long distance services from Scotland, the North West and North East through Birmingham to the South Coast and South West of England.

No change proposed.

Gatwick Express

May 2011

Gatwick Express operates frequent, high speed, non-stop services between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport.

No change proposed.

Great Eastern Railway

April 2004

Great Eastern operates predominately commuter services from the Ilford, Romford, Southend, Chelmsford, Colchester, Clacton and Ipswich areas to London.

To form part of the ‘Greater Anglia’ ( East Anglia) franchise from 2004.

Great North Eastern Railway

April 2003

Great North Eastern Railway operates a fast, frequent service linking London Kings Cross with parts of East Anglia and the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Humberside, the North East of England and Scotland.

Two year extension being negotiated.

Great Western Trains

February 2006

Great Western operates high speed train services between London Paddington, South Wales, the Cotswolds and the West Country. These routes serve a mix of commuting, business and leisure customers.

Will look at joining with Thames to tender as a single franchise from 2006. In the meantime, will look at new rolling stock requirement.

Island Line

Sep 2003

Island Line operates trains on the Isle of Wight between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin, and links with the ferries to Portsmouth.

Refranchising proposed to include replacement rolling stock and upgrade of infrastructure in this unique vertically integrated franchise.

Midland Mainline

April 2008

Midland Mainline operates High Speed and Turbostar Train services along the M1 corridor between London, the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. There is a mixture of leisure, business and commuter travel.

Two year extension has been negotiated.

North Western Trains

April 2004

North Western Trains operate local and regional passenger rail services in North Western England and North Wales. In addition to inter-urban services between some of the larger towns and cities in the region, North Western Trains provides urban services around Manchester and Liverpool, and rural services in North Wales, Lancashire and Cumbria. Most services are supported by, and operate to the specification of, one or more of the relevant PTEs – Merseytravel, West Yorkshire, and Greater Manchester.

North Wales services to form part of the Wales & Borders franchise. Regional services to form part of the Northern franchise. Both to be tendered early in 2002.

Some inter-urban services to be transferred to TransPennine Express.

ScotRail

April 2004

ScotRail operates the vast majority of the passenger rail services in Scotland, and its services extend across the border to Carlisle. It also provides certain through services between Stranraer and Newcastle, and the Sleeper services between London Euston and Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen and Fort William. In the Glasgow area, ScotRail operates passenger rail services on behalf of Strathclyde PTE

Refranchising under discussion with Scottish Executive who both specify and fund the franchise.

Silverlink

October 2004

Silverlink County operates between London Euston, Milton Keynes and Birmingham New Street via Northampton, together with a branch to Bedford. Silverlink Metro services operate between Richmond and North Woolwich via Willesden and Stratford, together with branches linking Willesden Junction with Clapham Junction and Gospel Oak with Barking. Also local services from Watford Junction to London Euston with branch service between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey.

Possible two year extension, with the aim of providing additional capacity, particularly on North London Line.

Possible future link of County services with West Coast franchise to be reviewed and consulted; Metro services may be combined with the East London Line (Orbirail).

South West Trains

February 2003

South West Trains operate trains from London Waterloo to Woking, Basingstoke, Guildford, Southampton, Weymouth, Portsmouth, Exeter, Plymouth, Paignton and Reading, serving a mixture of longer distance and shorter distance travellers, with a high percentage of commuters.

Heads of Terms reached on 20 year franchise, and order for new trains to replace Mark I rolling stock placed. SPV being set up to provide platform extensions and station improvements.

Thames Trains

April 2004

Thames Trains operate services throughout the Thames Valley, the Kennet Valley, the Cotswolds, up to Stratford-upon-Avon, and on the North Downs line between Reading and Gatwick Airport. Passengers are a broad mix of commuters, business and leisure travellers (including tourists).

Possible two year extension with passenger benefits including increased capacity. Franchise could then be grouped with Great Western for replacement in 2006.

Thameslink Rail

April 2004

Thameslink Rail Ltd operates trains between Bedford and Brighton via central London and also between Luton and Sutton via Wimbledon. Its north/south route serves five major stations in central London and two airports – Gatwick and Luton.

Possible two year extension, aimed at securing additional capacity to meet rapid growth. Extended franchise could include Great Northern services. Longer term development awaits the outcome of the Thameslink 2000 inquiry.

Wales & West

April 2004

Wales & West operates on many routes in South Wales and the West Country, providing a mix of long distance services between large centres and rural services.

From October 2001, much of the Wales and West franchise transferred to the new ‘Wales and Borders Trains’ operation. The remainder of the franchise became the new ‘Wessex Trains’ operation. (Ownership of the franchise unchanged).

Wales & Borders franchise to be tendered early in 2002.

Wessex Trains to be tendered in mid-2002, after Wales & Borders and Northern.

West Anglia Great Northern

April 2004

WAGN serves the routes into London from Peterborough, Kings Lynn and Cambridge including a non-stop service between Cambridge and Kings Cross, plus frequent services from Hertford, Enfield and Chingford. It also operates the Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport services. It operates into three London termini – Kings Cross, Moorgate and Liverpool Street.

West Anglia services (from Liverpool Street) to form part of the ‘Greater Anglia’ franchise from 2004.

Great Northern services could be joined with Thameslink for franchise extension.

West Coast Trains

March 2012

West Coast Trains operate services between Glasgow, North West England, North Wales, the Midlands and London Euston.

No change to franchise length proposed. (Second phase of Passenger Upgrade requirements being reviewed.)