This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scotland's passenger rail franchise
28/07/2003
Tender documents for the next Scottish passenger rail
franchise were today issued to the four companies
shortlisted to bid for the contract by the Strategic Rail
Authority.
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen welcomed the next stage
of the refranchising process which aims to deliver
improvements to Scotland's rail network.
He said:
"The documents issued to bidders today set out a better
deal for Scottish passengers. They also highlighted our
ambitious plans for the development of the Scottish rail
network. Improving the quality of people's journeys and
tackling issues such as overcrowding are vital to securing
the long term future of rail.
"I have already said that I want the existing level of
service to be taken as the base for these bids. On top of
that I will be looking for improvements to benefit
passengers and provide value for money."
Bidding companies will be expected to show how they
will:
- Improve punctuality, frequency and reliability of
services
- Reduce current overcrowding on services
- Provide safe and accessible passenger services
- Improve standards of facilities for rail users at
stations and on trains
Bidders will also be expected to provide for
enhancements to the franchise such as:
- New services on the re-opened Stirling to
Alloa/Kincardine rail link and the new Larkhall to
Milngavie line
- Improvements to service frequency on a number of
important routes
- Improving passenger safety and information by
extending use of the CCTV and Customer Information
System to stations not currently served
- Participation in integrated ticketing schemes
The franchise documents also set out a mechanism that
will allow the terms and subsidy available for the
franchise to be altered to take account of developments in
the future such as the expansion of Edinburgh's Waverley
station, rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports,
development of the Borders rail link and the reinstatement
of a line between Airdrie and Bathgate.
The Minister said:
"I am committed to delivering real improvements to our
rail network and encouraging greater use of public
transport. We have already committed massive investment to
rail which includes the provision of 28 new Class 170
trains as well as a commitment to developing rail links to
Glasgow and Edinburgh airport.
"The Scottish Executive, the SRA and Strathclyde
Passenger Transport have worked in partnership to progress
this refranchising process. I am confident there will be
strong and healthy competition for the franchise."
The four companies shortlisted in March 2003 to bid for
the franchise are Arriva Trains Ltd, First Group plc,
National Express Group plc and Serco Rail/Netherlands
Railways.
The SRA acts as the procurement agent for the new rail
franchise on the Scottish Executive's behalf. Once the bids
have been received it is expected a Preferred Bidder will
be identified early next year.
The current franchise ends on March 31, 2004 but under
the current terms of the contract, a six month extension is
permitted to allow for mobilisation of the new contract
holder if needed. The new franchise will run for seven
years with a possible extension of an extra three
years.
This was announced by former Transport Minister Iain
Gray in December last year following revised franchise
policy guidance from the SRA.