23rd Mar 2015 07:50
LONDON (Alliance News) - FirstGroup PLC Monday said it had retained the First Great Western rail franchise in the UK until at least April 2019, and pledged to add new and updated trains, faster services, more direct trains to Devon and Cornwall and improvements to infrastructure.
The transport operator said it will continue the franchise until April 1, 2019, and the deal could be extended for a further year at the UK government's discretion. It has already been running the franchise since 2006.
In a separate statement, the government said FirstGroup will pay it about GBP68 million to operate the franchise from September 2015 until April 2019, and will be responsible for introducing Hitachi's Intercity Express Trains into service between London, Bristol and South Wales and the Cotswolds from summer 2017.
By Steve McGrath; [email protected]; @stevemcgrath1
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