The Strategic Rail Authority today launched the process for pre-qualifying for its new Greater Anglia franchise (announced on 19 December 2001), which aims to combine the Anglia Railways and First Great Eastern franchises, and the West Anglia section of the WAGN franchise.
The SRA is currently producing a detailed specification for the new franchise, which will be issued to pre-qualified bidders, and will consult key stakeholders to ensure their views are taken into account.
Under the timetable published today, a series of consultation meetings with key regional passenger groups, local authorities and other regional stakeholders will start from 29 April. In addition, the SRA is inviting parties to pre-qualify for the Greater Anglia franchise, before the formal bidding process begins in Summer 2002 of this year, with a view to letting the new franchise by Summer 2003. The SRA intends to consult pre-qualified parties on the scope of certain enhancement options for the franchise.
SRA Chairman Richard Bowker said:
"Franchise consolidation, where there is close geographical proximity and a single London terminus, was a main theme of the SRA new franchise policy launched in December. Given the capacity pressures on Liverpool Street's approaches, having just one operator, as opposed to three, makes good sense in operational and passenger service terms.
" We want to provide as much clarity as possible to bidders about what we expect the Greater Anglia franchise to deliver, and we want to ensure stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute their views, which is why we are starting a consultation process. The new Greater Anglia franchise needs to provide benefits both for passengers who use local and regional services and the many thousands of commuters who travel daily to the capital".
A seamless transfer to the new franchise will be facilitated by an agreement reached today between the SRA and GB Railways to stabilise the financial position of the existing Anglia Railways franchise following the protracted losses suffered by the company since the Hatfield accident in October 2000.
Under the deal, the SRA has allocated £23.7 million of additional subsidy, which includes an immediate payment of £3.2million to Anglia Railways until March 2004 to ensure that its services continue to operate at current levels, with a provision for the SRA to share in any upside should the company perform better than forecast. In addition, the deal provides for the franchise to be terminated early, on 6 months notice, to facilitate the creation of the Greater Anglia franchise earlier than 2004.
