3rd Apr 2007 15:20
Stagecoach Group PLC03 April 2007 3 April 2007 STAGECOACH PREFERRED BIDDER FOR MANCHESTER METROLINK CONTRACT Stagecoach Group plc is pleased to announce that it has been selected aspreferred bidder for the contract to operate and maintain the ManchesterMetrolink tram network. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) announced today (3April 2007) that Stagecoach Metrolink has been selected as its preferred bidderfor a combined contract to operate and maintain the 37km Manchester Metrolinksystem and the associated infrastructure. The contract will run for a 10-year term and is expected to commence within thenext three months. It will include managing a number of special projectssponsored by GMPTE to improve the trams and infrastructure to benefitpassengers. Stagecoach Metrolink will also be responsible for operating tramservices on the new Metrolink lines to Oldham, Rochdale, Droylsden and Chorlton. Nearly 20 million passengers travel every year on the Metrolink network, whichgenerates an annual turnover of around £22million. Metrolink operates fourroutes: • Altrincham - Manchester City Centre - Bury • Altrincham - Manchester Piccadilly Rail Station • Bury - Manchester Piccadilly Rail Station • Eccles - Manchester Piccadilly Rail Station Stagecoach already operates Supertram, a 29km tram system in Sheffield,incorporating three routes in the city. Ian Dobbs, Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group's Rail Division, said: "We aredelighted to have been selected as preferred bidder for the contract to runManchester's Metrolink network, which is one of the UK's premier light railsystems. "Stagecoach already operates a major tram system in Sheffield, where we are nowcarrying a record 13 million passengers a year and we will build on thisoperational expertise to deliver a first-class service to passengers inManchester in partnership with GMPTE. "We have developed an excellent reputation for delivering high-quality busservices in Manchester over the past decade, and we are already working hard onour plans to improve Metrolink's quality of service to customers and attractmore people to the tram." ENDS For further information, please contact:Steve Stewart, Head of Media and Public Affairs, Stagecoach GroupTel: 01738 442111 or mobile 07764 774680 NOTES TO EDITORS Metrolink The shortlisted bidders for the new Metrolink contracts were: Project Tenderers Operations and Tram Maintenance Stagecoach Keolis Infrastructure Maintenance Carillion First Engineering Combined Operations and Tram maintenance, and Infrastructure StagecoachMaintenance Keolis The current operator of Manchester Metrolink is Serco. Stagecoach Group Stagecoach Group is a leading international transportation group, with extensivebus and rail operations in the UK and North America. The Group's businessesoperate around 12,000 vehicles and rolling stock, and employ around 27,000people. Stagecoach currently operates more than 7,000 buses and employs around 20,000people at its UK Bus division, which includes 19 regional operating companies.Its network stretches from south-west England to the Highlands of Scotland,covering major cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, Hull,Oxford and Cambridge, as well as key shire towns and rural areas. Stagecoach Manchester operates around 660 buses in South Manchester, includingTrafford, Stockport, Tameside and Glossop. The company employs around 1,700staff and carries 82 million passengers a year. Stagecoach operates the Supertram network in Sheffield on a 27-year concessionrunning until 2024. Stagecoach operates the South Western rail franchise, which includes the SouthWest Trains and Island Line networks. South West Trains, the UK's biggestcommuter rail network, runs nearly 1700 trains a day in the south-west ofEngland out of London Waterloo. Island Line, on the Isle of Wight, has beendesignated a Community Rail Partnership. In addition, Stagecoach has a 49%shareholding in Virgin Rail Group, which operates the CrossCountry and WestCoast inter-city rail franchises. Stagecoach Group is shortlisted for the East Midlands rail franchise, which runsfrom November 2007. Virgin Rail Group has been shortlisted for the new Cross Country franchise, alsocommencing in November 2007. A Stagecoach-Virgin's joint venture, inter city - railways ltd, has beenshortlisted for the InterCity East Coast rail franchise, which is expected tostart in autumn 2007. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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