West Coast Partnership franchise bidders – Transport Focus response

22 June 2017

Commenting on the confirmed bidders for the West Coast Partnership franchise, Anthony Smith, Chief Executive of the transport user watchdog, Transport Focus, said:

‘This is an important step towards setting up this significant new franchise which will also include future HS2 operations. It is critical that the passenger interest is kept at the heart of all plans as the franchise is specified and progresses. We will be working with bidders and the Government to ensure that this happens including building passenger satisfaction into the targets of what they deliver. We will also focus on the pricing of new HS2 and existing services, the handling of engineering work disruption and the layout of new trains.’