GNER franchise up for tender

[Derek Kaye]

just seen on BBC news that the GNER franchise is up for grabs again.. anyone have any more info?

 

[Mojo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6182027.stm

The Department for Transport today announced it is inviting Expressions of Interest to operate services on the InterCity East Coast Mainline. It is expected that the operator for the new franchise will be in place in 12 to 18 months.

Until that date, the Government has entered into agreement with the current operator GNER, to operate the franchise on the Department's behalf under a temporary 'Management Agreement'.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/divisionhomepage/613780.hcsp

 

[devon_metro]

fNE anybody?

 

[Peter]

why are they paying the government instead of network rail, shurely the idea of a private railway is that the market rules, not burocratts!

 

[Ascot]

Sooner or later the whole of the Rail Network will be opperated by one company (apart from the open access companies) then the government will buy that company and go back to Regional Railways etc.. and the government get's a shed load of money.

 

[Humberside]

Are Arriva likely to be interested or do they normally keep out of the inter city market?

What about Danish Railways or Deustche Bahn (even after their last bid) or NedRail - could they be interested