Our Companies

We are one of the UK’s biggest rail operators and are involved in running around 20% of the passenger network.

The UK rail market is split into a number of separate franchises, which are awarded by the Government for set time periods. Train operators bid to operate the franchises on the basis of specifications set by the Department for Transport.

Our bid strategy is focused on delivering better services for passengers, value for money for taxpayers and the right risk-reward profile for our shareholders.

Stagecoach Group’s wholly-owned UK rail franchises are:

• South Western
• East Midlands

Stagecoach Group also has a 49% shareholding in Virgin Rail Group which operates the West Coast Trains rail franchise in the UK. The franchise runs until December 2012.

Current rail franchise bids

We are currently involved in developing bids for the franchises below. Stakeholders can contact us by emailing bidteam@stagecoachrail.com

Great Western

The new 15-year Great Western passenger rail franchise is due to commence in April 2013. It will provide long distance, commuter, regional and branch line train services from London Paddington to the Midlands, Cotswolds, South Wales and West of England, the South Coast, Devon and Cornwall and Gatwick airport. Great Western's Heathrow Connect services are expected to transfer to the separate Crossrail franchise in May 2018. The full Crossrail service is expected to operate to Heathrow and Maidenhead by December 2019, replacing most of the current suburban services provided to and from Paddington.

Timetable*

Thameslink

The Thameslink passenger rail franchise is expected to start in September 2013. It will be for a minimum of seven years, with a potential extension of up to two years. The franchise will initially include train services between London, Brighton, Bedford, Peterborough, Cambridge and King's Lynn. Between April and December 2014, it will take on Southeastern’s existing services on the Thameslink route. At some point between July 2014 and July 2017, the franchise will be expanded to include all of the current Southern services in south London, between central London and the South coast, through East and West Sussex, Surrey and parts of Kent and Hampshire.

Timetable*

InterCity West Coast

Virgin Rail Group (VRG), a joint venture between Stagecoach and Virgin Group, is one of three companies shortlisted for the new InterCity West Coast franchise. VRG is the operator of the current West Coast franchise through its Virgin Trains brand. The current franchise expires in early December 2012.

The new InterCity West Coast franchise will operate express train services from London Euston to the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland. The franchise provides train services along the West Coast Main Line from Euston in the heart of London to Glasgow in Scotland. It serves the key cities of Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow as well as servicing the North of Wales to Holyhead.

The Government has set out the following objectives for the franchise:

• Exploit the full potential of the route and maximize capacity.
• Improve overall passenger satisfaction.
• Improve accessibility to services and stations.
• Improve the environmental performance of the franchise.
• Manage effectively any changes during the franchise.
• Achieve sustainable value for money

The InterCity West Coast franchise will start on 9 December 2012 and run until 31 March 2026, with an option to be extended by up to 20 months.

Timetable*

*Dates are indicative and subject to change.