BRITAIN's Department for Transport (DfT) has invited bids for the first two passenger rail franchises since the cancellation of the West Coast franchise in October 2012 following the discovery of flaws in the DfT's bid evaluation process.
REPRESENTATIVES of Rhine-Ruhr Transport Association (VRR), Westphalia-Lippe Local Transport (NWL) and Rhineland Local Transport (NVR) signed contracts with National Express Group in Wuppertal on September 25 for the operation of two regional routes in North Rhine Westphalia.
TRANSPORT for London (TfL) has announced the shortlist of bidders for the concession to operate the 118km Crossrail east-west link across London, which is due to open in 2018.
NATIONAL Express has placed its first rolling stock order for its German regional rail operations, with the awarding of €170m contract to Bombardier for 35 Talent 2 emus.
NATIONAL Express will continue to operate the Essex Thameside franchise until September 2014 after it was awarded a short-term contract by the Department for Transport (DfT), the first such contract to be concluded since the Inter-City West Coast (ICWC) fiasco cast the franchising programme into turmoil last year.
THE German subsidiary of National Express has invited bids by May 25 from up to six suppliers for a four-year framework contract to supply up to 250 electric trains.
RHINE-Ruhr Transport Association (VRR), as lead contractor for two other transport authorities, has awarded two 15-year regional concessions in North Rhine Westphalia to a consortium of National Express Rail and IntEgro Transport.