Strategic Rail Authority

SRA's TransPennine Express Moves Forward
_______________________________________________________________

date 14 September 2001
source Strategic Rail Authority
type Press release

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has welcomed Transport Secretary
Stephen Byer's announcement today that it should move forward with
proposals for a new TransPennine Express franchise.

The franchise has been developed by the SRA to provide fast, frequent and
high quality intercity train services on this important freight and passenger
route between major population centres in the North of England.

The SRA will now start formal consultation with five local Passenger Transport
Executives (PTEs) regarding the franchise. Once this process is completed,
the three shortlisted parties for the franchise will be asked to resubmit their
proposals, taking account of revised baseline requirements and potential
additional passenger benefits identified during the consultation.

Mike Grant, SRA Chief Executive, said: "We are pleased that the Minister has endorsed the TransPennine Express concept, which the SRA has been developing since June 2000. The franchise will deliver tangible benefits to travellers in the North of England, with fast and frequent services within the congested M62 corridor. We can now move forward to further refine the franchise proposition, following discussion with the Government and the Passenger Transport Executives.

"Today's announcement will assist in the further development of the new
Northern franchise, incorporating the regions' rural and urban services".

Notes to Editors

1. In seven metropolitan areas Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs)
specify the minimum level of service, administer subsidy and are cosignatories
to passenger rail franchise agreements. The TransPennine
Express franchise will serve the regions of five PTEs: Greater Manchester,
Merseyside (Merseytravel), Tyne & Wear (Nexus), South Yorkshire and West
Yorkshire.
2. Shortlisted parties for the TransPennine Express franchise are Arriva plc;
Connex Transport UK Ltd.; and a consortium of Keolis SA (formerly VIA
Generale de Transport et d'Industrie) and First Group p lc.
3. The decision today takes the form of a Section 26 notice to the SRA from
the Secretary of State under the Railways Act 1993. It triggers the statutory
rights of PTEs to specify services in accordance with Section 34 of the Act.
4. The TransPennine Express franchise develops the key existing inter urban
services within the current Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western
networks. The SRA has also announced proposals for a Northern franchise,
incorporating rural and urban services currently operated within the existing
Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western networks.

Railhub Archive ::: 2001-09-14 SRA-001