Dutch rail operator Abellio Group has been selected by the UK’s Department for Transport to operate the Greater Anglia train franchise.
The new franchise, due to start in February 2012, will provide intercity, commuter and rural services throughout the Greater Anglia region.
In the UK, the company already operates the rail companies Merseyrail and Northern Rail, as well as the bus companies Abellio London & Surrey.
The 29-month contract will see Abellio assume responsibility for 3,000 employees and the operation of 43,000 services per month. Trains within the franchise will carry two million passengers per week.
The company said that its first priority will be to ensure the seamless transition of operations before starting to deliver the improvements in customer service, station conditions and operational performance to which it has committed.
Abellio will also be focused on ensuring that the network is ready to offer a major transport link to London for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Commenting on the news, Abellio’s CEO Anton Valk said: "I am delighted Abellio has been selected for the Greater Anglia franchise. This win adds to Abellio’s already successfully operated franchises in the UK, Northern and Merseyrail and is a testament to the growing confidence that the Department for Transport has in our ability to bring positive change to rail services.”
Abellio delivers rail and bus services to 700,000 passengers every day across the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic.
Abellio’s parent company is Netherlands Railways.
