Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern Direct Award

[Mollman]

DfT have announced the intention to direct award GoVia to continue operating Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern from April next year:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...n-and-great-northern-prior-information-notice

The delivery of Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern services requires a new contract following the end of the current contract, which expires on 1 April 2022.

This notice informs the incumbent train operator that the Department for Transport seeks to obtain a direct award starting on 1 April 2022.

 

[717001]

Appears option under current contract is being taken up to delay the expiry from 19 September 2021 to 1 April 2022.

 

[Journeyman]

Appears option under current contract is being taken up to delay the expiry from 19 September 2021 to 1 April 2022.

Allows the dust to settle a bit before making long-term decisions.

 

[Aictos]

It also means no doubt that service contractors will have their contract extended as a result eg company phones, train cleaning, car parks, ticket barriers etc

 

[Carlisle]

Allows the dust to settle a bit before making long-term decisions.

Pre pandemic, that’s essentially been standard procedure for almost every rail franchise approaching its initial expiry date.