LONDON (Alliance News) - Transport operator Go-Ahead Group PLC on Wednesday said its joint venture with French peer Keolis has been shortlisted for the contract running the West Midlands rail franchise.
The Govia joint venture between the two has handled the franchise since 2007 and will be looking to renew the deal to keep running the service, which will expire in October 2017, Go-Ahead said.
The UK Department for Transport said the other bidders shortlisted for the franchise are West Midlands Trains Ltd, headed by Dutch group Abellio, and MTR Corp, a Hong Kong-listed transport operator.
The department said the bidders will have to demonstrate how they will deliver better journeys for passengers on the service, which covers the Midlands, south east and north west of the UK.
By Sam Unsted; samunsted@alliancenews.com; @SamUAtAlliance
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