FGW direct award signed

摘要

DfT announced on October 3 that it had signed a new agreement for FirstGroup plc to operate the Great Western franchise for 23 months to October 20 2015. A nine-month extension will be negotiated with FirstGroup to operate the franchise through to replacement, scheduled for July 2016. While DfT declined to reveal the premium to be paid, the figure of £32·5m quoted by The Guardian is reported to have been endorsed by FirstGroup. This compares with the £435m premium paid by FGW in 2012-13 before receiving £266·3m in revenue support from DfT under the cap and collar provision in the franchise agreement.