2003-10-09 Two year Central Trains extension (Strategic Rail Authority)

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date 14 September 2000
source Shadow Strategic Rail Authority
type Press release

Eight companies have successfully met the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority's
pre-qualification criteria to compete for the new Wales and Borders franchise.

The companies who will be submitting proposals for places on the shortlist
and selection as preferred operator are as follows:-

Arriva plc
Connex Transport UK Ltd
First Group PLC
GB Railways Group Plc
Group 4 Management Services Limited
Prism Rail PLC
Serco Rail (a division of Serco Limited)
Via GTI (Générale de Transport et d'Industrie)

Mike Grant, Franchising Director and Chief Executive of the sSRA said:
"I am delighted by the strong field of quality contenders we have assembled to
submit proposals for this important franchise. One operator will in future run
the majority of services in Wales on a dedicated network better tailored to the
needs of local people.

"To secure this franchise, potential operators must table plans capable of
delivering step changes in service quality. I will conduct an exacting
competition, where innovation and investment will be important in reaching my
final decision, as will track record" .

Pre-qualified companies have 60 days to prepare detailed proposals,
whereupon a shortlist of counterparties will be invited to proceed further in the
replacement process. The aim is to award the new franchise during 2001.

Notes to Editors

1. The Wales and the Borders franchise was announced by the SSRA
on 8 August 2000. It will embrace the following service groups,
currently operated by four different operators:
All of the services currently comprised within the Cardiff Railways
(Valley Lines) franchise.
Services currently operated as part of the Wales and West franchise in
Wales, from Cardiff to Hereford, Shrewsbury and Manchester and from
Wales to Birmingham, to the West Country and to London (Waterloo)
via Bristol.
First North Western services to and along the North Wales Coast.
Central Trains services from Birmingham to (and within) Mid-Wales.
The franchise will include all stations in Wales, including those currently
operated by Great Western, and those predominantly served by the new
franchise in the border counties, including the key stations of Chester,
Shrewsbury and Hereford.
Services currently provided by Great Western Trains, Virgin CrossCountry
and Virgin West Coast are not included.

Important Notice

This news release is issued by the Franchising Director and its contents have
been approved for the purposes of section 57 of the Financial Services Act
1986 by KPMG Corporate Finance.

KPMG Corporate Finance is a division of KPMG which is authorised to carry
on investment business by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England
and Wales. This news release has been prepared for general information
purposes only and is not intended to form the basis of any investment
decision or constitute an offer or invitation to bid for any passenger rail
franchise or to acquire shares in a train operating company. Neither this news
release nor any copy of it should be taken into or distributed in Canada,
France, Japan or the United States except in accordance with an applicable
exemption. The distribution of this news release in other jurisdictions may be
restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this news
release comes should inform themselves about and observe any such
restrictions.

KPMG Corporate Finance is acting for the Franchising Director and will not
regard any other person as its client in relation to passenger railway
franchising or be responsible to anyone other than the Franchising Director for
providing the protections afforded to clients of KPMG Corporate Finance nor
for advising any other person on the contents of this news release or any
matter referred to in it.

Railhub Archive ::: 2000-09-14 SRA-001