Abellio selected as preferred bidder for East Anglian rail franchise

Abellio has welcomed the decision of the Department for Transport (DfT) to select Abellio as preferred bidder to run the next East Anglia rail franchise from 16th October 2016. Government Opportunities

Abellio’s bid for the East Anglia franchise will deliver a transformation for the passenger. They will replace every one of the current vehicles with new, modern, high performing trains. This, coupled with significant journey time improvements, a 55% increase in seats into London in the morning peak and more than a thousand additional train services each week will deliver a step change in what our passengers experience day to day.

Our plans include:

  • £1.5bn investment to replace one of the oldest train fleets in the country with 1,043 completely new electric and bi-mode vehicles by 2020, with additional capacity added and many existing trains refurbished before then
  • 32K more seats into London in the morning peak – up from 58K to 91K (a 55% increase)
  • More trains to more places – 1,144 additional weekday services (an increase of 13%)
  • Improved punctuality, with PPM improving from 89.7% to 92.9%. Delivered through a more robust timetable, investment in infrastructure, people and process and through an Alliance with Network Rail
  • Investment in the local economy and jobs with £120m spend on depots, including a new maintenance facility at Manningtree
  • We will take on 20 trainees per year, with a minimum of 30 apprenticeships by 2019
  • An investment programme to improve our customers’ journey experience, including: nearly £60m on improving stations, with major schemes at Broxbourne, Cambridge, Chesthunt, Harlow and Southend Victoria; digital customers information screens at all 131 stations; improved ticket offices and more ticket vending machines; and nearly 1180 additional car parking spaces and 4000 additional cycle parking spaces.

Dominic Booth, Managing Director of Abellio UK said:

“This is great news not only for Abellio but for the whole of East Anglia. We are pleased to become preferred bidder to deliver a transformation in rail services across the region. It will enable us to build on the successes of the two short East Anglian franchises we have run since 2012, and we commend the DfT on running a transparent and rigorious procurement process.

Our plans will greatly improve our customers’ experience with faster and more reliable journeys on new trains with higher frequencies and reduced journey times, to support the socio-economic well-being of East Anglia, one  of the country’s most successful and fastes growing areas.”

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