DfT revises East Mids Direct Award plans

The Department for Transport has modified its plans for a Direct Award of the contract to run the East Midlands franchise. 

EMR is currently operated by Abellio East Midlands Ltd under a franchise agreement from May 2019, and an Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement from September 2020.

The new contract is expected to have a duration of four to eight years (rather than the previously expected four to six), with the existing ERMA and franchise agreement extended from April 1 2022 to October 16 2022.

“We are implementing new national rail contracts as part of the transition towards a new commercial model for passenger services outlined in the Great British Railways: Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail,” said the DfT.

EMR took over from Stagecoach-owned predecessor East Midlands Trains, which since 2007 had run the franchise that includes east-west cross-country services as well as trains on the Midland Main Line.