The Department for Transport (DfT) has published a shortlist of bidders for the TransPennine Express franchise and Northern franchise competitions.
Shortlisted operators have until December to develop their bids before the formal Invitation to Tender is published.
The shortlist includes:
Northern
- Abellio Northern Ltd
- Arriva Rail North Limited
- Govia Northern Limited
TransPennine Express
- First Trans Pennine Express Limited
- Keolis Go-Ahead Limited
- Stagecoach Trans Pennine Express Trains Limited
As well as setting general targets for providing more frequent services, both franchise agreements include requirements to upgrade the ageing rolling stock on some northern routes.
Bidders for the Northern franchise will need to put forward proposals to replace Class 142 and 144 Pacer trains. In March, the current operator of the Northern franchise, a Serco-Abellio joint venture, was given an extension to keep control of the route until February 2016. The negotiations also resulted in the DfT agreeing to give the operator 14 Class 319, formerly of First Capital Connect, to introduce onto a newly electrified section of railway between Liverpool and Manchester.
Rail Minister Claire Perry said: “The North is undergoing a real rail renaissance, and we will be asking these companies to come up with innovative and ambitious proposals that will ensure a truly world-class rail network for the region.
“Building a railway that is fit for the 21st century is a vital part of our long term economic plan, connecting businesses and communities, generating jobs and boosting growth, and we need strong private sector partners to help us achieve this ambition.”
Both franchises will be awarded in October 2015 and start in February 2016.
