• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
  • Contact us
  • Guest Content
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Set For Life
      • Thunderball
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Travel Travel News

Southeastern and GWR handed new contracts to continue operating train services

The Department for Transport said the move will ensure ‘those who need to can continue to travel’.

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
2020-03-30 11:37
in Travel News
Credit;PA

Credit;PA

FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Train operators Southeastern and Great Western Railway (GWR) have been given new direct award franchises, the Department for Transport has announced.

The department said the move will ensure “those who need to can continue to travel and will provide certainty for staff working on the railways”.

GWR, owned by FirstGroup, has been given a three-year deal, while Southeastern, owned by Govia, has been awarded a new two-year contract.

The department said the new contracts will lead to increased capacity at peak times, additional frontline staff and more trials of fare innovations.

These agreements will run concurrently with the emergency measures announced last week which will see the Government temporarily take on the revenue and cost risk associated with individual franchises due to a collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Rail services

Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “We are taking decisive action across the board to ensure vital rail services continue, allowing those people who cannot work at home to get to work – particularly our NHS, emergency services and other vital industries.

“These contracts will keep services running in the short term but also are positive news for passengers in the future, focusing on more reliable services, extra capacity and improvements to the stations they use every day.

“These are unprecedented times and the rail network is central to our national resilience. The deals announced today guarantee vital services in the short term and tangible improvements in the long term.”

Direct award franchises involve the Government negotiating directly with an incumbent operator, rather than a contract being awarded to a successful bidder.

RelatedPosts

Chiltern Railways appointed as operator for East West Rail

Passengers upset after flight lands in Spain with zero suitcases

Orient Express to scrap UK leg after 41 years due to Brexit border controls

Court bailiffs sent to Luton Airport to get Wizz Air refund for customer

Southeastern and GWR’s existing agreements were due to end on Tuesday.

The DfT scrapped a competition to operate services on Southeastern’s network in August last year amid concerns it would not deliver enough passenger benefits.

Related – NHS nurse commuting by train feels ‘let down’ after fares ‘bumped up’

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

← Women’s Aid: More resources needed for coronavirus domestic abuse surge ← Covid-19: One in four doctors off sick or in isolation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

-->