An extra 40 carriages will run on the New Cross Country network following the award of the franchise to Arriva plc.
The additional coaches, and refurbishment of others, will provide 3000 more seats a day for passengers on the busiest parts of the network, which extends across Britain from Penzance to Aberdeen, from Cardiff to Stansted Aiport and from Manchester to Bournemouth.
Arriva plc has been awarded the contract to run the franchise from 11th November 2007 for eight years and four months. The DfT will pay it a subsidy of £1.056bn.
The new franchise combines most of the existing Cross Country franchise currently operated by Virgin Cross Country and some services currently operated by Central Trains.
Other benefits for passengers include:
* A new web-based ticketing system will be introduced from December 2009 which will allow customers to reserve seats up to 10 minutes before their train leaves, print tickets at home, receive and display tickets on mobile phones and receive customised journey information packs. The franchise will also accept smartcard tickets issued by other train companies;
* More trains to/from Stansted in the evening by extending some late Birmingham to Cambridge services to the airport
* Refurbished Class 170 coaches on Birmingham to Stansted and Cardiff to Nottingham services, including extra seats, and first class on all trains;
* Up to 25% more luggage storage space due to an internal refit of Voyager trains;
* Catering provided to customers at their seats, including hot meals in first class on weekdays;
* Wi-Fi access, which will be free in first class;
* More accessible staff on trains with at least three passing through long-distance trains to assist passengers, provide information and manage seat reservations;
* Extra help for passengers who need to change trains, especially at Birmingham New Street. Staff will be equipped with technology to give up to the minute information on train times and connections. There will be an information campaign to advise passengers of other stations where they can change more easily than at Birmingham New Street.
* Extra staff employed to help passengers during major timetable changes in December 2008.
Rail Minister Tom Harris said: "We have secured an excellent deal with Arriva. Not only are they delivering an even bigger increase in capacity than we asked for, they are doing it a year earlier than expected. I am especially pleased that the new franchisee will connect some of our biggest cities even more effectively. This will benefit both business and leisure travellers"
The Government will continue to limit annual rises of regulated fares in line with national policy, which is currently RPI+1%.
As with all franchises, unregulated fares will be the responsibility of the operator. Arriva have indicated that they may wish to raise unregulated fares by an average of 3.4% above inflation each year.
The additional coaches, and refurbishment of others, will provide 3000 more seats a day for passengers on the busiest parts of the network, which extends across Britain from Penzance to Aberdeen, from Cardiff to Stansted Aiport and from Manchester to Bournemouth.
Arriva plc has been awarded the contract to run the franchise from 11th November 2007 for eight years and four months. The DfT will pay it a subsidy of £1.056bn.
The new franchise combines most of the existing Cross Country franchise currently operated by Virgin Cross Country and some services currently operated by Central Trains.
Other benefits for passengers include:
* A new web-based ticketing system will be introduced from December 2009 which will allow customers to reserve seats up to 10 minutes before their train leaves, print tickets at home, receive and display tickets on mobile phones and receive customised journey information packs. The franchise will also accept smartcard tickets issued by other train companies;
* More trains to/from Stansted in the evening by extending some late Birmingham to Cambridge services to the airport
* Refurbished Class 170 coaches on Birmingham to Stansted and Cardiff to Nottingham services, including extra seats, and first class on all trains;
* Up to 25% more luggage storage space due to an internal refit of Voyager trains;
* Catering provided to customers at their seats, including hot meals in first class on weekdays;
* Wi-Fi access, which will be free in first class;
* More accessible staff on trains with at least three passing through long-distance trains to assist passengers, provide information and manage seat reservations;
* Extra help for passengers who need to change trains, especially at Birmingham New Street. Staff will be equipped with technology to give up to the minute information on train times and connections. There will be an information campaign to advise passengers of other stations where they can change more easily than at Birmingham New Street.
* Extra staff employed to help passengers during major timetable changes in December 2008.
Rail Minister Tom Harris said: "We have secured an excellent deal with Arriva. Not only are they delivering an even bigger increase in capacity than we asked for, they are doing it a year earlier than expected. I am especially pleased that the new franchisee will connect some of our biggest cities even more effectively. This will benefit both business and leisure travellers"
The Government will continue to limit annual rises of regulated fares in line with national policy, which is currently RPI+1%.
As with all franchises, unregulated fares will be the responsibility of the operator. Arriva have indicated that they may wish to raise unregulated fares by an average of 3.4% above inflation each year.
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