Transport for London (TfL) has shortlisted four companies for the next London Overground operating concession.
Arriva Rail London, LoKeGo, Metroline Rail and MTR will proceed to the next round of the competition for the new concession, which starts in November 2016.
Overground services are currently operated by London Overground Rail Operations Limited (LOROL) – a 50/50 joint venture between MTR and Deutsche Bahn (DB).
LoKeGo is joint venture between Keolis (51 per cent) and Go-Ahead (49 per cent). Keolis currently operates Docklands Light Railway (DLR) services, in partnership with Amey.
During the new operating concession, service frequency will be increased from eight to 10 trains an hour and new trains, which were ordered from Bombardier earlier this week, will be introduced to replace the Class 315 and Class 317 trains inherited from Greater Anglia.
The future operator will also have the option of introducing 24-hour services at weekends from 2017.
Back on my “high horse!” I note that foreign transport organisations are involved in all four shortlisted companies, either through the joint venture (LoKeGo) or total ownership as in the other three companies. Why have British-owned companies been unsuccessful in the bidding for this franchise – can anyone answer?
I think that MTR Co should extend the LOROL to 8-10 years with new routes to take over including ELL extension to Dartford via Charlton/Falconwood/Bexleyheath, Hayes & Bromley North and with new trains to replace the LO Class 317’s & 315’s used on the Liverpool St-Cheshunt/Enfield Town/Chingford West Anglia Metro routes and Romford-Upminster route and the electrification of the Gospel Oak-Barking line with new trains to be added to replace the LO Class 172’s Turbostar.