Partner Article

Nexus names final two contract bidders

The final two bidders for the operation of the Tyne and Wear Metro services were announced last week.

The two bids left in the running come from German firm DB Regio Tyne and Wear Limited and an in-house bid from Metro.

Nexus has now asked each bidder to revise and confirm their proposals over the next two months.

One of the bidders will go on to win a concession of seven to nine years, beginning in April 2010, to provide the day-to-day delivery and management of Metro train services and stations, train maintenance and modernisation of 90 Metrocars.

Nexus, which is letting the concession, will continue to own all trains, set fares and specify the service and frequencies for Metro, used by more than 40 million passengers a year.

Ken Mackay, Director of Rail and Infrastructure at Nexus, said: “Both bidders could offer a very high standard of public service in both price and quality. We will now seek to find the ‘best of the best’ by asking each to further revise and confirm their proposals.

“These bidders stand out for their strong understanding of the Metro Operations business, commitment to improve customer service, and impressive plans to upgrade the Metrocar train fleet while maintaining high standards of punctuality and reliability on our behalf.

Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus, said: “We can be satisfied that whichever bidder is successful, Nexus and our contractor will deliver an improved service for passengers which coupled with the £300m conditionally offered by Government will secure Metro’s future for decades to come.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .