Bus firm wins rail franchise
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The sixth privatised rail franchise, the InterCity services out of St Pancras, was yesterday awarded to National Express, the bus company which has already won the right to run the Gatwick Express rail shuttle.
National Express won a 10-year deal with the promise of extra services and new trains. Although initially it will receive more than pounds 16.5m in subsidy - pounds 6.5m more than currently being paid to British Rail, by the end of the 10-year franchise it has committed itself to paying pounds 10m for the right to run the services. The franchise for Midland Main Line, covers services between London St Pancras and Wellingborough, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.
While not committing itself to the existing timetable, National Express says it will "be maintaining broadly the current level of service for the first three years" and that by 1999, once new trains had been leased, there would be substantial increases in the timetable. For example, according to Roger Salmon, the franchising director, there will be "10 more services each weekday to and from Derby, 10 each weekday for Nottingham and 22 for Leicester".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments