Date: 03/12/2015

THE Govia franchise London Midland has been extended by direct award until October 2017. The news comes after protracted negotiations with the Department for Transport. The existing contract would have ended in April next year. The new contract includes tougher performance targets and subsidies worth £130 million. Govia has also undertaken to run two additional evening services each weekday from London to Trent Valley stations and earlier services to central Birmingham on Sundays from stations in the West Midlands such as Longbridge, Lichfield, Dorridge and Whitlocks End as well as Rugby and Coventry. There will be an extra service between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey, while free WiFi will be available on long-distance services between London Euston, Northampton, Birmingham, Crewe, Stoke and Liverpool. WiFi will have been be extended to all services by the time the next franchise starts in 2017. [From Richard Buckby]

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London Midland wins franchise extension

Rail News

THE Govia franchise London Midland has been extended by direct award until October 2017. The news comes after protracted negotiations with the Depart...