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Roundup: Worldwide search starts for operator of HS2, Britain's rail of future

Xinhua, November 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

A global competition was announced Friday to find an operator for Britain's high-speed railway.

HS2 will be built at a cost of 45 billion U.S. dollars between London and Northern England, with a new franchise combining its operation with the existing west coast main line operating between London and Glasgow.

The West Coast Partnership (WCP) was announced in a written statement to parliament by Rail Minister Paul Maynard.

Maynard said: "This new proposition is seeking to attract a world class partner to develop and enhance the existing InterCity West Coast (ICWC) operation and help shape the development of HS2 and operate its first services in 2026."

"We are embarking on a new chapter in the modernisation of our railways. A strong private sector partner is vital now to work with government and as an advocate for passengers on the West Coast, to ensure excellent passenger services in the run up to HS2 introduction, and a smooth transition to the next generation of rail franchising as HS2 becomes the new backbone of Britain's railways," the official said.

Maynard said the new operator will need to build on the existing ICWC long-distance, inter-city services between England, Scotland and Wales by delivering a service which puts passengers at the heart of the railway.

The winning bidder will have to be an experienced operator as a strong partner to act collaboratively with HS2 Ltd to design, launch and operate passenger services on the 530 kilometer-long HS2 line and the West Coast Main Line.

It will mean the successful bidder working in partnership with the Department for Transport (DfT), HS2 Ltd, local transport authorities, Transport Scotland and the Welsh government.

Maynard's announcement is the first step in a process and will be followed by an expression of interest for the WCP to be published in December 2016, followed by the invitation to tender in October / November 2017 with the new franchise scheduled to commence April 1 2019.

The first phase of HS2 will see high speed trains, travelling at up to 400 k/hr running between London and Birmingham, Britain's second biggest city by the mid-2020s, with phase two extending the line to Manchester and Leeds.

The completion of the first phase of HS2 will nearly triple the number of seats at rush hour from 11,000 to around 30,000. The majority of intercity trains will run on the high speed network, allowing more commuter services to run on the existing West Coast line. Endit