London (TAN): United Kingdom-based international transport company Stagecoach Group will continue running East Midlands Trains for at least another five months, after it secured a new contract from the country’s Department of Transport (DfT).
The current franchise, which was due to end tomorrow, will now operate at least until August 18, 2019.
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The new short-term franchise agreement comprises helping delivery of the Midland Main Line upgrade worth GBP 1.5 billion, which could improve capacity and reduce journey times.
As per the contract, stations and trains will be improved, with the rollout of smart ticketing starting this month as part of a wider national programme.
In a statement, the Stagecoach Group said its subsidiary “has delivered industry leading levels of performance by running the UK’s most punctual long distance services for the last ten years of the franchise, at the same time as returning over GBP 200 million to the taxpayer.”
“We are pleased to have been given the opportunity by the DfT to extend our successful tenure of the East Midlands Trains franchise until at least August,” said Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Martin Griffins.
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“We are very proud of the improvements we have delivered for our customers and our people over the past 11 years, and we look forward to continuing this successful track record,” he added.
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