Go-Ahead Group PLC West Midlands Rail Franchise (6222N)

TIDMGOG

RNS Number : 6222N

Go-Ahead Group PLC

10 August 2017

 
 The Go-Ahead Group plc 4 Matthew 
  Parker Street, London, SW1H 9NP 
  Telephone [phone] 
 

PRESS RELEASE

10 August 2017

THE GO-AHEAD GROUP PLC

("GO-AHEAD" OR "THE GROUP")

West Midlands Rail Franchise

The Go-Ahead Group is disappointed that its joint venture Govia (Go-Ahead 65%, Keolis 35%) has been unsuccessful in its bid to win the new West Midlands rail franchise.

Go-Ahead Chief Executive, David Brown, said:

"London Midland and its people have been part of our Group's rail business for ten years. In that time we have delivered significant improvements across the entire network which have seen London Midland transformed into an award-winning franchise with high levels of employee engagement and customer satisfaction.

"I would like to thank everyone involved in London Midland for their hard work and contribution to the company's successes."

Govia will continue to operate the current contract until December 2017.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

 
The Go-Ahead Group 
Holly Gillis, Head of Investor Relations    020 7799 8984 
Citigate Dewe Rogerson 
Angharad Couch/Eleni Menikou/Toby Moore     020 7638 9571 
 

LONDON MIDLAND

London Midland has been operating train services from London to Liverpool and across the West Midlands since 2007. The company's current contract began in April 2016 and is due to end in December 2017. During this time London Midland has invested GBP14 million in raising performance and introducing additional passenger benefits including industry-leading free on-train entertainment and WiFi. Since the start of 2017 London Midland has been named the country's most improved train company by the Institute of Rail Operators and Britain's most improved organisation for Customer Service by the UK Customer Service Institute. Investors in People has also upgraded the London Midland to Gold status, making the employer only the fourth train company to receive the rating. The company has also won two Corporate Social Responsibility awards this year for its work with communities.

GO-AHEAD

Go-Ahead is a leading UK public transport operator, providing high quality services in the bus and rail sectors. Employing around 29,000 people across the country, over one billion passenger journeys are undertaken on our services each year. We are committed to operating our companies in a safe, socially and environmentally responsible way and are proud to have been accredited with triple Carbon Trust Standard for reductions in carbon, water and waste. In addition to the travelling public, our customers include the Department for Transport, Transport for London (TfL) and local authorities.

BUS

Go-Ahead is one of the UK's largest bus operators. With a fleet of around 5,200 buses, we carry over two million passengers every day. Our operations are focused on high density commuter markets. We have a strong presence in London, with around 24 per cent market share, where we provide regulated services for TfL. Outside London, we operate services in Oxford, East Anglia, the South East, Southern and north east England. In September 2016, the Group began operating a bus contract in Singapore, on behalf of the Land Transport Authority.

RAIL

The rail operation, Govia, is 65 per cent owned by Go-Ahead and 35 per cent by Keolis. It is the largest rail operation in the UK, responsible for over 30 per cent of all UK passenger rail journeys through its rail franchises: GTR (Govia Thameslink Railway) Southeastern and London Midland.

KEOLIS

Keolis is a leading global transport operator, handling over three billion passengers ever year in 16 countries. Keolis is the global number one in light and metro rail services, and provides heavy rail, bus and coach services, cycle-hire schemes, parking and on-demand transport. Through Govia, the 65%/35% joint venture between Go-Ahead and Keolis, 650 million UK rail passenger journeys are handled every year. Keolis is also the UK's largest light rail operator and runs three of the UK's seven light rail networks, including its busiest (Docklands Light Railway), largest (Greater Manchester Metrolink) and the award-winning Nottingham Express Transit.

Disclaimer

Certain statements included in this press release contain forward-looking information concerning the Group's strategy, operations, financial performance or condition, outlook, growth opportunities or circumstances in the sectors or markets in which the Group operates. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve uncertainty because they depend of future circumstances, and relate to events, not all of which are within the Group's control or can be produced by the Group. Although the Group believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Nothing in this press release should be construed as a profit forecast and no part of these results constitutes, or shall be taken to constitute, an invitation or inducement to invest in The Go-Ahead Group plc or any other entity, and must not be relied upon in any way in connection with any investment decision. Except as required by law, the Group undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statement.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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August 10, 2017 02:08 ET (06:08 GMT)