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Rail franchising

From:
Department for Transport
Part of:
Rail network
Published:
3 October 2013
Last updated:
22 June 2017, see all updates

All current documents relating to rail franchising at the Department for Transport.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is responsible for designing and procuring new and replacement rail franchise services on the national rail network. DfT is the franchising authority for the rail network.

Our vision is to provide world class train services that drive economic growth and exceed passenger expectations.

Rail franchising: background information

  1. Rail franchising: aims and expectations

    • Guidance

  2. Rail franchises: summary

    • Guidance

  3. Rail franchising 26 May 2016

    • Written statement to Parliament

  4. Rail franchise schedule

    • Guidance

Rail franchising PQQ passport

The pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) passport for rail franchising covers all rail franchise competitions held between September 2015 and September 2019. Passport holders can express an interest for any future franchise competition without having to submit the same detailed technical information each time – saving time and reducing costs.

Current PQQ passport holders are:

  • Abellio Transport Group Limited
  • Amey Rail Limited
  • Arriva UK Trains Limited
  • East Japan Railway Company and Mitsui & Company Limited (Consortium)
  • First Rail Holdings Limited
  • Go-Ahead Holding Limited
  • Govia Limited
  • Keolis (UK) Limited
  • Metroline Rail Ltd
  • MTR Corporation (UK) Limited
  • National Express Trains Limited
  • SNCF C3
  • Stagecoach Group Plc
  • Trenitalia SpA
  • Virgin Holdings Limited

  1. Rail franchising: pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) passport award

    • Written statement to Parliament

  2. Rail franchising PQQ passport: OJEU notice

    • Guidance

  3. Rail franchising PQQ passport: documentation

    • Guidance

Cross Country franchise

An intercity franchise that provides passenger services across the whole country stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance, Bournemouth to Manchester and Stansted to Cardiff.

  1. Better journeys for passengers on the Cross Country network

    • News story

East Anglia franchise

A commuter and regional franchise providing passenger services between London (Liverpool Street), Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich as well as local and regional services across the east of England.

  1. Better journeys for rail passengers and boost for Derby train industry as new East Anglia franchise announced

    • News story

  2. Major boost for East Anglia as government confirms ambitious ‘Norwich in 90’ plans

    • News story

  3. Rail franchising: East Anglia invitation to tender

    • Written statement to Parliament

  4. East Anglia franchise 2015: invitation to tender

    • Guidance

  5. East Anglia rail passenger franchise

    • Consultation outcome

  6. Shortlist for East Anglia franchise announced

    • News story

  7. Rail franchising: East Anglia, 2 June 2015

    • Written statement to Parliament

  8. East Anglia franchise 2015: prospectus

    • Guidance

  9. East Anglia franchise 2015: OJEU notice

    • Guidance

  10. East Anglia franchise 2015: pre-qualification documentation

    • Guidance

East Midlands franchise

An intercity and regional franchise that provides passenger services between London (St Pancras), the East Midlands and Yorkshire (Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield, Leeds) and all the central England services linking Nottingham; Derby, Worksop, Lincoln, Cleethorpes, Skegness, Leicester and Cambridge.

  1. East Midlands rail franchise: 3 firms make the shortlist

    • News story

  2. East Midlands franchise competition: expression of interest documentation

    • Guidance

  3. East Midlands franchise competition: prospectus

    • Guidance

  4. Better journeys for East Midlands rail passengers as government confirms new deal

    • News story

  5. Rail Franchising: East Midlands direct award

    • Written statement to Parliament

Essex Thameside franchise

A commuter franchise providing services into London from south-east Essex along the Thames.

  1. Essex Thameside franchise consultation

    • Consultation outcome

  2. Essex Thameside franchise 2013: invitation to tender

    • Guidance

  3. Essex Thameside franchise 2011: OJEU notice

    • Guidance

Great Western franchise

A commuter and intercity franchise including high speed train services between London (Paddington), South Wales, the Cotswolds, the West Country, and rural services.

  1. Great Western franchise: response to the 2014 consultation

    • Policy paper

  2. Great Western: specification for the future franchise

    • Consultation outcome

InterCity East Coast franchise

An intercity franchise providing long distance services between London (Kings Cross) and Aberdeen. Its services call at the major cities of London, Peterborough, Doncaster, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

  1. InterCity East Coast franchise 2014: invitation to tender

    • Guidance

  2. InterCity East Coast franchise

    • Consultation outcome

  3. InterCity East Coast franchise clarification questions

    • Guidance

  4. InterCity East Coast (ICEC) franchise 2013: OJEU Notice and pre-qualification documentation

    • Guidance

  5. InterCity East Coast (ICEC) franchise 2013: prospectus

    • Guidance

InterCity West Coast franchise

An intercity franchise that provides passenger services between London (Euston), the West Midlands, north-west England, North Wales and Scotland. Its services call at London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

  1. Government announces new rail franchise for Inter City West Coast with the introduction of High Speed 2 services

    • News story

  2. Rail franchising: InterCity West Coast and HS2

    • Written statement to Parliament

  3. InterCity West Coast franchise

    • News story

  4. Future of InterCity West Coast rail franchise

    • Closed consultation

  5. InterCity West Coast: overview and vision

    • Guidance

London and the south-east

  1. Rail passenger services in London and the south east: a new approach

    • Closed consultation

  2. Transport Secretary and Mayor set out vision for rail travel across London and the south east

    • News story

Northern franchise

A regional franchise consisting of a range of inter-urban, commuter and rural services throughout the north of England.

  1. Better journeys for rail customers as new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises confirmed

    • News story

  2. Massive boost to rail services brings Northern Powerhouse to life

    • News story

  3. Massive boost to rail services in the north-east brings Northern Powerhouse to life

    • News story

  4. Massive boost to rail services in the north-west brings Northern Powerhouse to life

    • News story

  5. Massive boost to rail services across Yorkshire and the Humber brings Northern Powerhouse to life

    • News story

  6. Rail franchising: Northern and TransPennine Express franchises

    • Written statement to Parliament

  7. Northern franchise 2015: invitation to tender

    • Guidance

  8. Future of Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises

    • Consultation outcome

  9. Pacer vehicles withdrawal: seeking a ministerial direction

    • Correspondence

  10. Pacer vehicles withdrawal: confirming the ministerial direction

    • Correspondence

  11. Northern franchise 2014: prospectus

    • Guidance

  12. TransPennine Express and Northern franchises 2014: OJEU notice

    • Guidance

  13. Northern franchise 2014: pre-qualification documentation

    • Guidance

South Eastern franchise

A commuter franchise that operates passenger services in the south-east London suburbs, the whole of Kent and part of Sussex, which are primarily commuter services to and from central London.

  1. Bidders for 2 rail franchises named by government

    • News story

  2. West Coast Partnership and South Eastern rail franchise bidders

    • Written statement to Parliament

  3. South Eastern rail franchise competition: prospectus

    • Guidance

  4. South Eastern franchise consultation launched

    • News story

  5. Future of South Eastern rail services

    • Open consultation

  6. South Eastern franchise competition: expression of interest documentation

    • Guidance

  7. Letter to Southeastern passengers

    • Correspondence

South Western franchise

A commuter and regional franchise that operates an intensive network of suburban and long distance services between London Waterloo, south-west London, and towns and cities in the south-west of England, including the Island Line services on the Isle of Wight.

  1. First MTR South Western Trains Limited wins South Western franchise

    • News story

  2. South Western rail franchise

    • Written statement to Parliament

  3. Better journeys on the way for rail passengers across the South Western network

    • News story

  4. South Western franchise 2016: invitation to tender

    • Guidance

  5. South Western rail franchise

    • Consultation outcome

  6. Two companies shortlisted to compete for the next South Western rail franchise

    • News story

  7. South Western franchise competition prospectus

    • Guidance

  8. South Western franchise competition: expression of interest documentation

    • Guidance

  9. Passengers invited to have their say on South Western train franchise

    • News story

Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise

A commuter interurban and regional franchise bringing together Thameslink and Great Northern services with Southern services.

Thameslink provides intensive inter-urban services across London (including the key stations of St Pancras International and London Bridge) and to the north and south of the city (between Bedford and Brighton) and out to East Croydon, Gatwick Airport and Brighton.

Great Northern runs between London King’s Cross and Moorgate to Hertford North, Peterborough, Cambridge and King’s Lynn.

Southern operates predominantly commuter services between London, Surrey and Sussex, plus Gatwick and Brighton, as well as south coast services between Southampton, Brighton, Hastings and Ashford. It also operates Metro services in south London and the Gatwick Express service.

  1. Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern 2013: invitation to tender

    • Guidance

  2. Consultation on the combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise

    • Consultation outcome

TransPennine Express franchise

An intercity and regional providing long distance inter-urban services, across both north-east and north-west England including to Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Manchester Airport.

  1. Better journeys for rail customers as new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises confirmed

    • News story

  2. Massive boost to rail services brings Northern Powerhouse to life

    • News story

  3. Massive boost to rail services in the north-east brings Northern Powerhouse to life

    • News story

  4. Massive boost to rail services in the north-west brings Northern Powerhouse to life

    • News story

  5. Boost to rail services in Scotland as UK government awards next TransPennine Express franchise

    • News story

  6. Massive boost to rail services across Yorkshire and the Humber brings Northern Powerhouse to life

    • News story

  7. Rail franchising: Northern and TransPennine Express franchises

    • Written statement to Parliament

  8. TransPennine Express franchise 2015: invitation to tender

    • Guidance

  9. Future of Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises

    • Consultation outcome

  10. Pacer vehicles withdrawal: seeking a ministerial direction

    • Correspondence

  11. Pacer vehicles withdrawal: confirming the ministerial direction

    • Correspondence

  12. TransPennine Express franchise 2014: prospectus

    • Guidance

  13. TransPennine Express and Northern franchises 2014: OJEU notice

    • Guidance

  14. TransPennine Express franchise 2014: pre-qualification documentation

    • Guidance

West Coast Partnership franchise

The West Coast Partnership rail franchise will combine the existing InterCity West Coast (ICWC) services with the development and introduction of services on the new high speed network, High Speed 2 (HS2).

The new franchise operator will run services on the West Coast Main Line from 2019. They will also design and run the initial high speed services from 2026. The franchise operator will need to set a new global standard in rail travel; bringing together the highly successful existing conventional Intercity West Coast Mainline rail services and the new high speed services.

We want to work with multi-skilled bidding groups that will be able to run a great service and provide fresh thinking, ideas and technological innovation from businesses both within and outside the transport sector. We particularly welcome involvement from companies where customer service is ingrained in their culture and where there is a drive to innovate, to anticipate and create what the next generation of customers want.

If you are interested in getting involved, please see the prospectus. If you require more information please contact us at WCPCompetition@dft.gsi.gov.uk.

Competition timeline

  • EoI responses due, 24 April 2017
  • ITT issued, November 2017
  • ITT responses due, March/April 2018
  • winning bidder announced, November 2018
  • commencement of operations, April 2019

  1. Bidders for 2 rail franchises named by government

    • News story

  2. West Coast Partnership and South Eastern rail franchise bidders

    • Written statement to Parliament

  3. New opportunities offered as details of new rail franchise are released

    • News story

  4. West Coast Partnership franchise prospectus

    • Guidance

  5. West Coast Partnership franchise competition: expression of interest documentation

    • Guidance

  6. West Coast Mainline short term contract prior information notice

    • Guidance

  7. Government announces new rail franchise for Inter City West Coast with the introduction of High Speed 2 services

    • News story

  8. Rail franchising: InterCity West Coast and HS2

    • Written statement to Parliament

West Midlands franchise

A commuter and regional franchise providing passenger services between Birmingham and the Midlands and major cities and towns including London (Euston), Milton Keynes, Northampton, Liverpool, Stafford, Stoke and Crewe. It also provides local and regional services across the West Midlands.

  1. Better journeys on the way for rail passengers across the West Midlands

    • News story

  2. West Midlands franchise competition: invitation to tender

    • Guidance

  3. West Midlands rail franchise

    • Consultation outcome

  4. Three train companies shortlisted to compete for West Midlands franchise

    • News story

  5. Passengers asked for views on next West Midlands rail franchise

    • News story

  6. West Midlands franchise competition: expression of interest documentation

    • Guidance

  7. New contract to make journeys better for West Midlands rail passengers

    • News story

  8. Rail franchising: West Midlands

    • Written statement to Parliament

  9. West Midlands franchise competition: prospectus

    • Guidance

Specialist technical advice for rail framework

  1. Specialist technical advice for rail framework: invitation to tender

    • Guidance

  2. Specialist technical advice for rail framework: contract notice

    • Guidance

  3. Specialist technical advice for rail framework: pre-qualification documentation

    • Guidance

Rail franchising: further information

  1. Rolling stock perspective 2016

    • Policy paper

  2. Rail passenger franchise competition guide

    • Guidance

  3. Government response to the Brown review of the rail franchising programme

    • Policy paper

  4. Rail Opportunities Day

    • Promotional material

  5. Franchise competition high level process map

    • Guidance

  6. Franchise competition high level process map narrative

    • Guidance

  7. Railways Act 1993 section 26 policy statement

    • Consultation outcome

  8. Enforcement policy: rail franchise agreements and closures

    • Guidance
Contents

Document information

Published: 3 October 2013

Updated: 22 June 2017

+ full page history

  1. West Coast Partnership (WCP) and South Eastern rail franchise bidders announced.
  2. South Eastern rail franchise competition prospectus.
  3. First MTR South Western Trains Limited wins South Western rail franchise.
  4. Future of South Eastern rail services consultation.
  5. South Eastern franchise competition: expression of interest documentation added to page.
  6. West Coast Partnership franchise prospectus released.
  7. East Midlands franchise competition expression of interest documentation.
  8. West Coast Partnership franchise competition: expression of interest documentation added to page.
  9. West Coast Mainline short term contract prior information notice (PIN) plus updates to the rail franchise schedule and rail franchising PQQ passport OJEU notice.
  10. West Coast Partnership franchise.
  11. Metroline Rail Ltd added to pre-qualification questionnaire passport holders.
  12. Invitation to tender for the West Midlands rail franchise 2016.
  13. East Anglia franchise announced.
  14. Invitation to tender for the South Western rail franchise 2016.
  15. Rail franchising schedule.
  16. Updated rail franchising schedule, passport and rolling stock perspective.
  17. Rail franchising overview, aims and expectations published.
  18. Two companies shortlisted to compete for the next South Western rail franchise announced.
  19. Proposal for a new approach to rail passenger services in London and the south east.
  20. News story published announcing that DfT has officially signed the Northern and TransPennine Express contracts.
  21. Rail franchising pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) passport award announced.
  22. New Northern and TransPennine Express franchises announced.
  23. Added 'South Western franchise competition: expression of interest documentation' and 'South Western franchise competition prospectus'.
  24. South Western rail franchise consultation published.
  25. Rail franchising passport pre-qualification documentation published.
  26. East Midlands franchise awarded.
  27. List of rail franchising documents updated.
  28. First published.

From: Department for Transport

Part of: Rail network