Hong Kong, Dutch, German and French companies revealed as preferred bidders to run Welsh rail services

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Economy and Infrastructure Secretary Ken Skates has today revealed the preferred bidders for services on the new Wales and Borders franchise and Metro.

Four bidders have been selected to progress to the next stage in the procurement process to operate rail services in Wales and the Borders from October 2018 as well take forward key aspects of the next stage of Metro.

This will form part of the Welsh Government’s ambition to deliver a new not for profit rail model similar to the way in which Transport for London manage public transport services.

The Operator and Development Partner (ODP) will help deliver on the Welsh Government’s commitment to an improved, faster and more accessible rail service fit for modern Wales.
The four preferred ODP bidders are:

• Abellio Rail Cymru
• Arriva Rail Wales/Rheilffyrdd Arriva Cymru Limited
• KeolisAmey
• MTR Corporation (Cymru) Ltd

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1476313307643{background-color: 848484 !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Abellio” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32px|text_align:left|color:%23cc2e2e” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_single_image image=”39944″ img_size=”400×260″ style=”vc_box_shadow_border”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”66px”][vc_column_text]Abellio operates public transport services in Europe, with both bus and rail networks.

The company is the international arm of the Dutch national rail operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen.

It won its first UK contract, Merseyrail, in 2003 – since then, the company has grown to become a major operator in the UK, adding Abellio Greater Anglia and ScotRail to its portfolio. Abellio London & Surrey operates bus services in Central, South and West London and across North Surrey[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1476313320406{background-color: 848484 !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Arriva Trains Wales” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32px|text_align:left|color:%23cc2e2e” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_single_image image=”39977″ img_size=”400×260″ style=”vc_box_shadow_border”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”66px”][vc_column_text]Arriva Trains Wales is the existing franchise holder for the Wales & Borders franchise. It is a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn the German railway company Headquartered in Berlin.

It runs passenger services to all railway stations in Wales.

The Welsh Government funds around £170 million per year for the franchise which Arriva Trains Wales won the contract for in 2003, this will end in 2018[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1476313342448{background-color: 848484 !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Keolis” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32px|text_align:left|color:%23cc2e2e” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_single_image image=”39963″ img_size=”400×260″ style=”vc_box_shadow_border”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”66px”][vc_column_text]Keolis operate Docklands Light Railway and the urban light rail network in Nottingham.

The company has been in the UK since 1996 and employ 13,000 people across it’s franchises

Globally, Keolis operates in 16 different countries.

Keolis is 70% owned by SNCF – France’s state-owned railway operator – and 30% owned by Canadian pension fund, Caisse de depot et de placement du Québec.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1476313353408{background-color: 848484 !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”MTR” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32px|text_align:left|color:%23cc2e2e” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_single_image image=”39975″ img_size=”400×260″ style=”vc_box_shadow_border”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”66px”][vc_column_text]Mass Transit Railway Corporation was established in 1975 as a Hong Kong government-owned statutory corporation to build and operate a mass transit railway system to meet Hong Kong’s public transport needs.

In May 2015, MTR Crossrail commenced an eight-year contract to operate the Crossrail 18-kilometre railway line under development in London and the home counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Bidders will now progress to the next stage having demonstrated to the Welsh Government a track record and appetite for providing high quality services as well as the financial standing and expertise to ensure delivery.

Economy and Infrastructure Secretary Ken Skates said:

“I am pleased with the way we are taking forward our ambitious plans to transform rail services in Wales. The new Wales and borders service from 2018 and the next phase of the Metro are part of an ambitious and creative not for profit model that we are building for Welsh rail.

“The rail network will be managed by Transport for Wales and I am pleased to be able to announce progress today on who will deliver some key services within that model.

“We now have four highly skilled, experienced companies entering the next, competitive phase and I am keen to hear more from them about what they can offer Wales and how they can deliver on our plans for integrated public transport.

“Over the next 10 years I envisage significant strides in the delivery of our public transport network including the electrification of the Swansea, Valleys and North Wales lines, a South and North Wales Metro and widespread structural improvements that are already in the pipeline.

“The priorities for the next franchise will include updated rolling stock, reduced journey times and the use of modern technology and approaches to deliver an improved service for passengers across Wales.

“I’m confident that we are putting the building blocks in place to deliver on our ambition and I look forward to working with these bidders in developing a high quality integrated public transport system for Wales.”

The procurement process to select an Operational and Delivery Partner is being undertaken by Transport for Wales, a wholly owned, not-for-profit company established by the Welsh Government.

Transport for Wales will be publicly consulting on proposals in early 2017, subject to that consultation process, it is anticipated that the final contract will be awarded by the end of 2017.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]