£20M to be spent in Greater Anqlia direct award

摘要

Announced by DfT on April 16, the Greater Anglia direct award franchise agreement includes rolling stock upgrades and the provision of additional services. Starting in July, the agreement with incumbent Abellio Greater Anglia will run until October 2016 when a competitively-tendered, long-term replacement franchise is due to start. Where previous direct awards have been signed close to the expiry date of the preceding franchise (RB1459 p5), this early announcement and its details of the enhancements to be provided suggests a growing confidence within DfT's franchising team. Quoted in DfT's own press release announcing the deal, Abellio Greater Anglia Deputy Managing Director ft Finance Director Julian Edwards described the early agreement as 'a reassuring sign that the department has regained a firm hold of the franchising timetable'.