Franchise News

“The Government decision to award the West Coast Main Line Franchise to FirstGroup is extremely disappointing for Virgin, and for our staff that have worked so hard to transform this railway over the last 15 years.  We submitted a...

FirstGroup's shares have been given a boost ahead of industry speculation that the company is to be awarded the West Coast franchise. FirstGroup Plc has experienced its biggest monthly advance in three years as the company waits to hear whether...

Rail union RMT is gearing up to challenge West Coast favourites FirstGroup over fears that jobs could be lost if the company is awarded the franchise later this week. The UK's biggest operator is expected to cross the finishing line...

Northern Rail conductors, who work on services passing through Settle, will be stepping in the right direction in aid of Jane Tomlinson’s Walk for All Yorkshire Dales Walking Festival. The UK’s largest train operator will be running a special ‘Jane...

Passengers are set to benefit from £15m of improvements to car parking facilities at stations across England after four schemes made successful bids for rail industry funding. The successful projects, to be delivered by the train operators, will see single...

Chiltern Railways has started work on a £2.5 million car park deck at Warwick Parkway, creating an extra 222 spaces. The new decking area, which is due to be opened in December, will bring the number of spaces at the...

The race to run the West Coast franchise is hotting up, with Sir Richard Branson writing to Transport Secretary Justine Greening, copying in David Cameron, urging the government not to be swayed by unrealistic high bids. Tensions have been raised...

Infrastructure capable of supporting 140mph running and plans for additional capacity are the main thrusts in the invitation to tender for the Great Western franchise, published on July 27. Some of the projects outlined in the ITT include enhancing the...

National Express has seen its rail profits fall by 43 per cent following the loss of the East Anglia franchise. The group's rail profits slid from £27.1 million to £15.5 million in the first half of 2012. Dean Finch, National Express...

The Department for Transport has launched a consultation over plans to return the East Coast Main Line to the private sector. Rail Minister Theresa Villiers has launched the  InterCity East Coast franchise consultation, inviting passengers to send in their views...