South West Trains Franchise Going to Tender

Image Courtesy of South West Trains

The Department of Transport have announced that the South West Train franchise will be going to tender.

The South West Train franchise is currently run by a subsidiary of Stagecoach Group – Stagecoach South Western Trains. The company have confirmed that discussions about Direct Award have ended with the DfT, and the South West Trains franchise will be now opened to competition in 2017.

South West Trains Franchise

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “In order to ensure the best deal for passengers and taxpayers, we are proceeding to a full competition for the South Western franchise, and negotiations for the South Western franchise, and negotiations for the Direct Award have been brought to an end.”

The firm said in a statement put out today: “We believe we are in a strong position to submit a powerful and attractive bid for a new South West Trains franchise.” The firm also said that is positive about opportunities in the UK rail market. It is continuing to negotiate Direct Award of the East Midlands Trains, and is also shortlisted for both the Transpenine Express and East Anglia Franchises.