1st Apr 2005 07:00
Strategic Rail Authority01 April 2005 April 1st 2005. The Strategic Rail Authority today announced the pre-qualified bidders for twonew passenger rail franchises. Greater Western National Express Group PLC FirstGroup plc Stagecoach Group Thameslink/Great Northern National Express Group PLC FirstGroup plc Stagecoach Group MTR /John Laing plc Danish Railways (DSB) / English, Welsh and Scottish Railways (EWS) Notes to Editors: 1. The new Greater Western franchise will be made up of the existing GreatWestern, Great Western Link and Wessex Trains franchises and will run from April1st 2006 for a period of 7 years plus 3 extra years automatic extension ifagreed performance targets are met. 2. The new Thameslink/Great Northern franchise will be made up of theexisting Thameslink franchise and the Great Northern network, which is currentlythe WAGN franchise. The franchise is expected to begin operations on April 1st2006 for 4 years plus 2 extra years if agreed performance targets are met with apossible further extension for up to 3 years to facilitate work on theThameslink 2000 project. SRA Press Office 020 7654 6339 / 6858 Latest news and announcements from the SRA can be viewed on our website: www.sra.gov.uk This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
FirstgroupNEX.LSGC.L