FirstGroup has won the franchise to run West Coast Main Line intercity trains, despite opposition from its own shareholders, fears over the financial viability of its other rail operations and legal action by rival bidders. It will take over on 8th December 2019
The government announced that First, the majority partner in a joint venture with the Italian state operator Trenitalia, will take over intercity services on the London-Glasgow line from December. The line, which links the capital with cities including Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool, has been run since privatisation by Virgin Rail.
Trenitalia has also been named “shadow operator” for HS2. The company will pay £1.6bn in premiums to run the West Coast services – Britain’s most lucrative line – from this December until 2026, with a second phase of payments to depend on HS2. The contract could run until 2034 with an extension.
The company says it will add 23 new trains to its fleet to replace the unpopular Voyager trains, and refurbish the rest of its trains to be as new. They say the trains will have better Wi-Fi, at seat power for everyone, wireless charging and best in class entertainment as well as an exciting new on-board food offer.
“We will provide 25,000 new comfortable seats on our trains and will also invest in our stations with refreshed waiting rooms, better customer facilities, more car park spaces and greater accessibility for those who need it,” they promise.
First’s biggest shareholder, Coast Capital, has threatened to sue the board of the company if it took on any more rail contracts. James Rasteh, partner at Coast, told the Guardian earlier this year it would “hold each member of the management team and [each] board member personally and fully accountable if the company enters any new rail franchise”.
• The national Guardian has a report here
• The new franchise has a web site up and running already at www.westcoastrail.co.uk
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