COMPANY NEWS


F


irstGroup has confi rmed that it is to abandon its First Great


Western franchise three years earlier than it needed to, in order to concentrate on re-bidding for the longer-term contract.


FirstGroup’s chief executive, Tim O’Toole, said it was a “commercial decision” and pledged to meet all of its franchise obligations until March 2013.


He added: “We are focused on retaining our leadership position in UK Rail and will continue to leverage our unrivalled expertise and experience.


“We were pleased to pre-qualify for the InterCity West Coast franchise and we are discussing a proposal


to extend our First TransPennine Express franchise with the DfT.”


The decision could save FirstGroup more than £800m in franchise repayments to the Government because of the way the payments under its franchise agreements were ‘back-loaded’.


General secretary of the RMT union, Bob Crow, called that a “scandal” and said FirstGroup should not be given the long-term franchise.


Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said there would need to be “assurances” that service standards will not slip as FirstGroup focuses its attention on its future bid.


o-Ahead has announced a 5.8% rise in rail passenger numbers as a result of effective marketing and a modal shift from cars. It also said an increasing use of smartcard ticketing was helping fuel the boom.


G


Ticket sales were up on all three of its rail franchises: 11.6% on Southern, 11.2% on London Midland and 7.5% on Southeastern.


It runs all three through its 65%-owned subsidiary, Govia, and has also been shortlisted for the Greater Anglia franchise.


Group chief executive of Go-Ahead Keith Ludeman said: “Once again, we have seen a strong performance across our businesses.


“The growth in passengers on our trains – many of which serve London – also suggests that employment levels and discretionary journeys remain robust in the capital.”


He said the company “remains cautious” about the prospects for the wider economy but that the Group expects its full- year operating profi t to exceed expectations.


20 | rail technology magazine Apr/May 11


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