MTR has welcomed the start of the franchise bidding process for the Thameslink and Essex Thameside routes.
The Department for Transport (DfT) published the Pre Qualification Questionnaires (PQQs) for both franchises on Monday, and MTR will be submitting responses to both for the 9 February deadline.
Jeremy Long, CEO – European Business, said:
“MTR’s experience here in the UK with London Overground, and on commuter railways around the world, means we are well placed to deliver the value for money railway the Government wants to see.
“We are delighted that the franchising process is now formally under way and we will be submitting our responses early in February.”
In the UK, MTR co-owns the very successful train operating company LOROL which has brought London Overground services to the top of the UK train operating performance league tables.
MTR recently announced its intention to bid in the next round of UK railway franchise competitions – starting with bids for the Thameslink and Essex Thameside franchises.
MTR is bidding railway franchises in UK. You cannot be serious!! Looking what they have done to Melbourne in Australia in recent months, I hope commuters in UK don’t experienced the same nightmares as us in down-under! Metro Trains Melbourne is 60% owned by MTR Corporation in Hong Kong. Since they introduced new suburban train timetable on 22 April 2012, it is widely reported in the local media that they skip stations and terminate services in mid-journey (well ahead of published destination) in order to avoid paying monthly penalties! Such practice are not confined to weekends or off-peak periods, but also during peak hours where hundreds (if not thousands) of customers are inconvenienced! Just one of may news articles – http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/trains-skip-stations-to-evade-fines-20120524-1z7yi.html, or just Google “Metro Trains Skipping Stations” to see many media reports on their dodgy services!