LONDON, May 23 (Reuters) - Britain on Friday awarded acontract to run the expanded Thameslink rail network in Londonto Govia, a joint venture led by transport operator Go-Ahead, in a blow for FirstGroup which currentlyoperates part of the line.
Govia beat competition from four shortlisted bidders-Abellio, FirstGroup, MTR and Stagecoach - to win thekey commuter contract which will run for seven years from thisSeptember.
The new Thameslink contract, whose formal name isThameslink, Southern and Great Northern, brings together twoprevious rail contracts, which had been operated by First Groupand Govia. (Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Kate Holton)
Firstgroup (FGP)
