West Midlands Franchise Shortlist Announced

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

Three operators shortlisted for the new West Midlands franchise don't include London Midland (unless I'm reading this wrong)

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/three-train-companies-shortlisted-to-compete-for-west-midlands-franchise

The Department for Transport has today (7 April 2016) announced the train companies that are in the running for the next West Midlands franchise competition.

Three companies have been successfully shortlisted for the competition after submitting an expression of interest.

The shortlisted bidders are:
^London and West Midlands Railway Ltd, a subsidiary of Govia Ltd (a joint venture between Keolis and Go-Ahead Group)
^West Midlands Trains Ltd, currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Abellio Transport Group Ltd with East Japan Railway Company and Mitsui & Co Ltd as minority partners
^MTR^▸ (Mass Transit Railway, based in Hong Kong) Corporation (West Midlands) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of MTR Corporation (UK^▸ (United Kingdom)) Ltd

Rail Minister, Claire Perry said:


^The West Midlands franchise serves both commuters and long distance passengers and we are confident these companies will create high quality bids that can deliver better journeys for all.

^Today^s announcement marks a key step forward in giving passengers improved services across the region and beyond.^

The new operator is due to take over the franchise in October 2017, with the contract award expected to be made in June 2017. The current franchise covers a combination of commuting and long-distance services spanning the midlands, south-east and north-west as well services to London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street.

The Department for Transport also announced today the joint consortium of East Japan Railway Company and Mitsui & Co Ltd has been awarded a new Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) Passport. The consortium joins the department^s list of ^passport holders^ who are eligible to express an interest in all upcoming rail franchise competitions for the next 4 years.

London Midland is currently "London & Birmingham Railway Ltd", so a change of company name if Govia win. Wonder if they'll keep the London Midland trading name?

[Sam290893]

It will be interesting to see if they do keep the trading name as London Midland.

[JayMac]

The shortlisted bidders include the incumbent, Govia. I suspect they'll keep their London Midland operating name if successful.

A change of Limited name isn't unusual. Stagecoach have a different Limited name than the current one for their bid for the next South Western franchise. Currently run as Stagecoach South Western Trains Ltd. Bidding as Stagecoach South West Ltd. National Express changed the legal entity of the c2c franchise from c2c Ltd to NXET Ltd on continuing as the Essex Thameside franchisee in 2014.

[ChrisB]

You'll notice First changed their GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) company name too....so it can swing either way.

[JayMac]

You'll notice First changed their GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) company name too....so it can swing either way.

From what to what? The legal entity for the FGW^▸ (First Great Western)/GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) trading names has been First Greater Western Ltd for 11 years.

Or did you mean that First Greater Western Ltd changed its trading name?

[ChrisB]

Indeed, just as Govia could do.