Government seeks rail operator for Olympic service

Date: 27/4/2011

The government has requested that rail operators come forward and bid to run services in East Anglia - which would include becoming one of the firms travelling to and from the Olympic stadium next year.

According to the Department for Transport, the franchise is a short one at 17 months and will include destinations in the capital, along with Great Yarmouth, Ipswich and Cambridge, among others.

The operator would take charge from February next year and will need to deliver services that serve Stratford and the main stadium by putting on longer and more frequent trains during the 2012 Games.

In addition, the successful bidder will be expected to help manage and deliver any amendments required to facilitate Crossrail and improve customer satisfaction levels.

Crossrail recently announced that shortlists that contain the main construction contracts for the scheme's remaining stations have been confirmed.

The new network has been designed to reach 118 km from Maidenhead and Heathrow to Abbey Wood and Shenfield.

Posted by Mary Treen