Virgin Rail Group is one of the companies shortlisted to tender for the new West Coast franchise, it has been announced.
Having revealed its shortlist for the new franchise yesterday, the Department for Transport is expected to publish the invitation to tender in May, with a bid deadline of August. The new franchisee will be announced in December, with the franchise expected to start in April 2012.
The West Coast service runs between London Euston and Glasgow, connecting Scotland, north-west England and the West Midlands to London.
The franchise will run for 14 years, with an option to extend for a further year.
The other shortlisted bidders are Abellio InterCity West Coast Limited (NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen); First West Coast Limited (FirstGroup plc); and Keolis/SNCF West Coast Limited (Keolis SA and SNCF).
Virgin has operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997. The current franchise expires in March 2012.
Commenting on the announcement, Virgin Rail Group’s CEO Tony Collins said: "We now look forward to seeing what the government includes in the tender for the franchise. We intend to submit a very strong bid to retain the West Coast franchise, building on the investment and customer improvements we have made.
“We have plenty of innovative ideas and look forward to working with local communities along the route, as well as other stakeholders, to develop these plans."
In the last six years, Virgin’s annual passenger numbers have doubled from 14 million to more than 28 million.
Virgin Rail Group is owned 51 per cent by Virgin Group and 49 per cent by Stagecoach.
