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22/03/2005
GNER announces £1billion rail deal
Train operator GNER has announced that it is to operate a new ten-year franchise on the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh.
GNER, which has operated the East Coast franchise since 1996, will pay over £1.3 billion to the government over the life of the franchise in what the Strategic Rail Authority described as the "biggest financial transaction in European railway history".
The new franchise will start from May 1 and is due to run for seven years and then a further three years, if performance targets are met.
GNER have announced a number of improvements they intend to make to the service, including a £75 million investment in High Speed Trains, a £25 million investment in stations; improvements to depot facilities and facilities for the disabled; the provision of nearly a thousand more parking spaces; Taxi-Bus facilities; a new website; more FastTicket machines and additional staff.
GNER also announced plans to develop a £70 million scheme with the Strategic Rail Authority and Network Rail, which would electrify 15 miles of track between Leeds and London. GNER said that this scheme would increase the number of services between London and Leeds and also reduce the length of the journey.
Commenting on the new deal, GNER's Chief Executive Christopher Garnett, said: "Everyone in GNER is delighted to have won a new franchise. We look forward to building a bigger and better railway, running extra services with more reliable and more comfortable trains and carrying many more passengers."
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said: "The government wants to see improvement in the quality of service to passengers as well as a good deal for taxpayers. GNER is committed to improving punctuality and reliability of its services along the entire East Coast route. It will refurbish carriages and invest in stations, as well as maintaining the high levels of on board service. Extra staff will also be recruited to provide added passenger security. Improvements like this will encourage more and more people to travel by train along the route."
(KmcA/MB)
GNER, which has operated the East Coast franchise since 1996, will pay over £1.3 billion to the government over the life of the franchise in what the Strategic Rail Authority described as the "biggest financial transaction in European railway history".
The new franchise will start from May 1 and is due to run for seven years and then a further three years, if performance targets are met.
GNER have announced a number of improvements they intend to make to the service, including a £75 million investment in High Speed Trains, a £25 million investment in stations; improvements to depot facilities and facilities for the disabled; the provision of nearly a thousand more parking spaces; Taxi-Bus facilities; a new website; more FastTicket machines and additional staff.
GNER also announced plans to develop a £70 million scheme with the Strategic Rail Authority and Network Rail, which would electrify 15 miles of track between Leeds and London. GNER said that this scheme would increase the number of services between London and Leeds and also reduce the length of the journey.
Commenting on the new deal, GNER's Chief Executive Christopher Garnett, said: "Everyone in GNER is delighted to have won a new franchise. We look forward to building a bigger and better railway, running extra services with more reliable and more comfortable trains and carrying many more passengers."
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said: "The government wants to see improvement in the quality of service to passengers as well as a good deal for taxpayers. GNER is committed to improving punctuality and reliability of its services along the entire East Coast route. It will refurbish carriages and invest in stations, as well as maintaining the high levels of on board service. Extra staff will also be recruited to provide added passenger security. Improvements like this will encourage more and more people to travel by train along the route."
(KmcA/MB)
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