A Keolis/Amey joint venture has been awarded a seven-year contract to operate and maintain London’s Docklands Light Railway (DLR).
Keolis Amey will take over from Serco, which has operated the DLR, since 1997Â on December 7.
The operating concession, which includes an option to extend the deal until 2023, is worth more than £700 million.
Four bidders, Go-Ahead/Colas, Keolis/Amey, Serco and Stagecoach, has initially submitted bids in the DLR competition. However, the Go-Ahead/Colas joint venture pulled out of the race in August 2013.
TfL’s managing director of London Underground and rail, Mike Brown, said: “The DLR is a rail network that continues to support regeneration across a huge area of London and the economic growth of the city as a whole.
“Its connectivity with the rest of the transport network, and its potential to connect jobs and unlock opportunities, is also set to increase further when we start to operate the Crossrail services that will interchange with it in a few years’ time.
“The decision to appoint Keolis Amey Docklands was reached after a thorough and competitive procurement process, which will ensure the DLR continues to deliver an ever-improving high quality, value for money service for Londoners well into the future.
“I would also like to thank Serco for their support since 1997 in helping make the DLR the success story it is today.”
It’s a shame that Serco have lost this contract and Keolis again gets the chance to make money in the UK. Keolis are obtaining a larger influence in the UK, which I think should not happen as SNCF don’t allow other private companies in to the French network.