02.09.13
Go-Ahead Group withdraws DLR bid
Go-Ahead Group has withdrawn its bid for the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) after joint venture partner Colas Rail states it is unable to proceed.
The announcement on Friday came just ahead of the deadline for bidders to submit their responses to an invitation to tender on September 9.
The other operators on the shortlist include Serco, who currently operates the DLR, Stagecoach, and a joint venture between Keolis and Amey Rail. A final decision will be made next summer with the new contract starting in September 2014.
In a statement, the group said: “Go-Ahead Group has advised Docklands Light Railway Ltd – a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London – that its joint venture with Colas Rail has withdrawn from the competition process for DLR.
“Colas Rail informed Go-Ahead it was not able to proceed with the bid and, as a result, the joint venture has had to withdraw from the bidding process.
“The Go-Ahead Group’s bid for the Thameslink and Crossrail franchises will continue.”
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