HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Bowker Welcomes Strong Interest in the New Greater Anglia Franchise [May 2002]
The press release issued by the Strategic Rail Authority on 21 May 2002.
The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) today announced that nine parties have pre-qualified as bidders for the new Greater Anglia franchise, which will operate all the regular services out of London Liverpool Street, as well as local services within East Anglia.
The pre-qualified bidders are:
- GB Railways Group Plc (incumbent of ‘Anglia Railways’ franchise)
- Firstgroup plc (incumbent of ‘First Great Eastern’ franchise)
- National Express Group (incumbent of ‘West Anglia Great Northern’ franchise)
- Arriva Trains Ltd
- Connex Transport UK Ltd
- Great North Eastern Railway Ltd
- GOVIA (The Go Ahead Group plc and Keolis SA)
- NS/Dutch Railways
- Virgin Rail Group Ltd
SRA Chairman Richard Bowker said,
“This impressive field of bidders for the new Greater Anglia franchise clearly demonstrates the importance and future potential of the railways to this rapidly growing part of the country. The strength of the field also indicates that the industry supports our proposals for a single franchise serving the region. This reinforces our belief that the new franchise will deliver an improved level of service for passengers”.
The SRA is currently consulting key regional stakeholders including local government and passenger representatives, about their aspirations and priorities for the franchise. This is the first stage of a dialogue which will continue alongside the franchise replacement process. Formal bidding will begin in Summer 2002, with the intention of signing a Franchise Agreement with the successful bidder in Summer 2003.
