South Western Railway (train operating company)
| Overview | |||||
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| Franchise(s) | South Western | ||||
| Main region(s) |
Greater London Surrey Hampshire Dorset Isle of Wight |
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| Other region(s) |
Berkshire Wiltshire Somerset Devon |
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| National Rail abbreviation | SW | ||||
| Parent company |
FirstGroup (70%) MTR Corporation (30%) |
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| Route map | |
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South Western Railway, registered as First MTR South Western Trains Limited, is a future English train operating company owned by FirstGroup (70%) and MTR Corporation (30%) that will commence operating the South Western franchise on 20 August 2017.
After failing to negotiate an extension of the South Western franchise with the incumbent South West Trains (Stagecoach), in July 2015 the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the franchise would be relet.
In February 2016, the DfT announced FirstGroup and Stagecoach had been shortlisted to bid for the next South Western franchise. In June 2016 MTR Corporation took a 30% shareholding in the FirstGroup bid.
In July 2016 the DfT issued the Invitation to Tender. In March 2017 the DfT awarded the franchise to First/MTR with operations to commence on 20 August 2017. It will run until August 2024 with an option for the DfT to extend for a further year.
Improvements promised under the new contract:
South Western Railway will inherit a fleet of Class 158, 159, 444, 450, 455, 456, 458, 483s and 707s from South West Trains. Eighteen 442s will enter service after being overhauled, while 750 new carriages will be ordered for use on the Windsor and Reading lines and on London suburban routes.
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Wikipedia