Great Western Coffee Shop

The train companies shortlisted to transform rail services in East Anglia have been announced today (2 June 2015) by the government.

Three companies are in the running for the next East Anglia rail franchise, having successfully passed the pre-qualification stage. They will work with the government to develop their proposals before receiving the invitation to tender in August.

Bidders will be asked to show how they will improve the region^s railways, including providing reduced journey times to London, more reliable services, and better connections. They will also be expected to show how they could achieve the recommendations of the Great Eastern Main Line Taskforce, which includes reducing London to Norwich journey times to 90 minutes.

The 3 shortlisted bidders are:

• Abellio East Anglia Limited (a joint venture between Abellio and Stagecoach)
• First East Anglia Limited
• National Express East Anglia Trains Limited

Rail minister Claire Perry said:

We have ambitious plans for East Anglia^s rail network, and the successful bidder will be central to making these plans a reality. We want to find a partner who will help us meet the increasing demand for transport in the region by providing faster, more reliable journeys and better connections across the region and beyond.

We are investing record amounts in building a world-class railway as part of our long-term economic plan, and I am determined that passengers in East Anglia will benefit.

The new operator is due to take over the franchise in October 2016. The East Anglia franchise, which is currently operated by Abellio Greater Anglia, carries 354,000 passengers a day on 5 routes across the region.

A public consultation on the future of rail services in East Anglia closed in March and the responses will be taken into account as the franchise proposals are developed further.

It's interesting how some names stick Thameslink became First Capital Connect but it never caught on and now Thameslink is back.

i am sure most passengers don't have a clue what their TOC is called. Especialy in cases where their station/journey is served by multiple TOCs or their train sports an old livery.

A train is a train.

Until I joined Coffeeshop, I didn't even know there were different companies - I thought they were all owned by one and the different colours/names just indicated the areas they covered - kinda like the different colours on the underground  ;D

Where have you been these last twenty years...?

Might that simply be bercause First (it's in the name) lost the franchise? :-)

Transport wise, cycling for most of it! I only started using trains regularly in 2008 when my company, and then myself, relocated.

But that was kinda my point, agreeing with eightf - as a passenger I don't care. Just want a ticket, a seat, a train the runs regularly between the destinations I need.

I suspect as eightf said, if you asked the majority of passengers they have no idea how things work. I know if I ask my mum who runs the trains she will say British Rail. Same as British Gas supply gas, BT supply the phone and BBC supply the TV signal  ;D :o

In spite of the smilies, I am disappointed but not surprised. But the implication is that all of the political debate about the pros and cons of the supply of services by either private industry or state organisations has since, ooh, 1979, passed you by.

Oh, and remind me! When did ITV start broadcasting...?

I said my MUM would think that, because she is stuck in her ways, no other reason. I was 5 in 1979, so I was more interested in the likes of Bod and Mr Benn!

I hope not I would like to think "they" recognised that the line is known as Thameslink and Londoners will not use any other. Certainly not Capital Connect whether First of not.

I hope not I would like to think "they" recognised that the line is known as Thameslink and Londoners will not use any other. Certainly not Capital Connect whether First of not.

Thameslink is succinct and describes what the line does: links North and South of the Thames.