10.04.15
TfL launches competition for next London Overground operator
Transport for London (TfL) has launched the competition to select the next train operator to run London Overground services from November 2016.
A notice has been issued with the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), with bidders having until mid-May to register their interest.
The bidding process will see a short list of entrants in summer 2015 followed by a competitive bidding stage with the new contract awarded in summer 2016. The next concession contract will be let on substantially the same terms as the current concession for an initial period of 7.5 years with an option to extend by up to two years at TfL’s discretion.
London Overground was established in 2007 and since then has been operated by LOROL, a joint venture company between MTR Corporation of Hong Kong and Deutsche Bahn AG via subsidiary Arriva.
Since its launch there has been a five-fold increase in customer numbers using London Overground services, which now carries more than 135 million customers a year.
Under the new contract, TfL will bring in new trains, higher frequency services and a continuing programme of station upgrades. The contract will also include options to introduce an all-night service at weekends and to extend Gospel Oak to Barking line services to Barking Riverside in 2019.
On 31 May, London Overground will also take over the operation of routes running from Liverpool Street station to Enfield Town, Cheshunt (via Seven Sisters) and Chingford, as well as services between Romford and Upminster. These routes will be part of the contract now open to tender and which the successful bidder will operate from 13 November 2016.
Jonathan Fox, TfL’s director of London Rail, said: “This is a very exciting time for London Overground as we expand our fleet and serve new parts of the Capital. At end of May, we will take over the running of local services out of Liverpool Street station to north east London, which will also come under the new concession.
“This bidding process is vital to ensure London Overground’s performance is maintained and improved to make services even better for our customers.”
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