Stagecoach Group is one of the UK's biggest and most experienced rail operators, involved in running around a quarter of the country's passenger network. The Group specialises in operating high-volume commuter rail services and long-distance operations.
Our business is committed to using our extensive experience to develop innovative bids that will deliver safe, reliable, punctual and value-for-money train services to passengers, backed up by first-class customer service.
We already run the UK's busiest commuter rail franchise, South Western, which incorporates the South West Trains and Island Line networks. Centred on London Waterloo station, South West Trains operates more than 1,600 trains a day on a network in south-west England, ensuring more than 160 million people get to their destination every year. Island Line, the UK's smallest rail network, on the Isle of Wight, has been designated a Community Rail Partnership.
Stagecoach also runs the East Midlands rail franchise, which includes high-speed long distance services from London St. Pancras to Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham and regional services between Nottingham and Derby – Lincoln – Cleethorpes – Skegness, and between Derby and Crewe - Matlock and Norwich and Liverpool. The franchise runs until 31 March 2015, the last year and four months of which will be conditional upon achieving pre-set performance targets. Passengers will benefit from improved capacity, faster journey times, better security and station enhancements.
The Group's rail business also includes our joint venture, Virgin Rail Group (VRG), which runs the West Coast inter-city franchise, which serves around 40 stations and runs until 2012. Stagecoach Group has a 49% shareholding in VRG, whose other partner is the Virgin Group of Companies. Stagecoach is Britain's biggest tram operator, with contracts to operate major systems in both Sheffield and Manchester.
In developing our plans for new franchises, we are committed to carrying out extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders.
We believe our strong track-record, unrivalled operational expertise and innovative ideas will ensure we can build on our success, expand our rail portfolio, and set even higher standards of service for passengers.
