East Coast mainline franchise confirmed
A RAIL franchise which is set to benefit strath passengers has been officially signed today, the Department for Transport has confirmed.
Inter City Railways, a venture between Stagecoach and Virgin, has taken over the £3.3 billion East Coast mainline contract, a move that was announced last month.
Under the eight-year deal, rail passengers travelling between Inverness and London are being promised faster journey times in new state-of-the-art trains within six years.
Direct connections from Inverness to Durham, Doncaster and Peterborough will also be introduced when the East Coast franchise changes hands next year.
The contract covers the Highland Chieftain service, which includes stops in Newtonmore, Kingussie, Aviemore and Carrbridge on its route between London and Inverness.
The train interiors will be upgraded in the next two years while new high-speed trains with more seats and luggage space will operate on the route by 2019/20.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "With the signing of the contract, Stagecoach and Virgin are firmly on track to deliver these improvements.
"The new services have only been made possible by the government’s investment in the railways, a vital part of our long-term economic plan."
Martin Griffiths, chief executive of Stagecoach Group, said: "This is a hugely exciting time for the passengers, businesses and communities who benefit from rail services on the East Coast route.
"Around £140 million will be invested under the new franchise in delivering an improved service and a more personalised travel experience for customers, on top of a whole new fleet of high quality trains."