Train firms line up for franchise race

THE starting whistle has been blown in a scramble for the Greater Western and Thameslink rail franchises. But train bosses immediately warned the licences are too short.

The Strategic Rail Authority has invited expressions of interest for the routes, starting in 18 months.

The Greater Western operation includes routes operated by FirstGroup out of Paddington plus those of regional company Wessex Trains, run by National Express.

Both incumbents will bid for the enlarged franchise but are set to face opposition from a joint venture bid from the operators of GNER and Chiltern Railways; from Virgin Trains; and from Go-Ahead, which controversially lost its Thames Trains operations to FirstGroup last year.

Thameslink, which runs services through the capital and out to Bedford and Brighton is run by Go-Ahead. It is likely to come up against bids from National Express and FirstGroup.

But one rail insider was dismayed by the lengths of the franchises indicated - seven years plus a possible three more for Greater Western and as little as five years for Thameslink, with a potential extra four.

'These railways need investment and the companies will want to know what sort of return they can make in so short a time,' said one rail operator.