Serco-Abellio Explained

Serco-Abellio
Type:Joint venture
Founded:2002
Area Served:Northern England
Industry:Train operating company
Owner:Serco (50%)
Transport UK Group (50%)
Subsid:Merseyrail

Serco-Abellio (formerly Serco-NedRailways) is a joint venture between Serco and Transport UK Group, each owning 50%. The joint venture is the train operating company of the Merseyrail franchise since July 2003 in the Liverpool City Region. It previously operated the Northern Rail franchise in Northern England from December 2004 until March 2016.

Serco-Abellio also lodged unsuccessful bids for the Wales & Borders, West Midlands (which Abellio later successfully bid for itself) and Tyne & Wear Metro franchises.

Transport UK Group was established in February 2023, following a management buyout of Abellio.

Operations

Merseyrail

In April 2003, Serco-NedRailways was awarded the Merseyrail franchise for 25 years from July 2003.[1] [2]

Northern Rail

In July 2004, Serco-NedRailways was awarded the Northern Rail franchise for six years and nine months from December 2004 with a two-year extension subject to performance targets being achieved.[3] [4]

In May 2010, the Department for Transport confirmed that Northern Rail had met the performance targets and the franchise was extended for two years until September 2013.[5] [6] [7] In May 2012, the Department for Transport granted Northern Rail a six-month extension until March 2014.[8] [9] [10] In March 2014, the Secretary of State for Transport announced a direct award until 4 February 2016, later extended to 31 March 2016.[11] The franchise was taken over by Arriva Rail North on 1 April 2016.[12]

History

Bids

The joint venture was also shortlisted for a number of other rail franchises:

Partners operating independently

See main article: Serco and Abellio. In 2014, it was confirmed that each partner bid independently for the 2016 Northern franchise. Only Abellio made the shortlist of three bidders, however the franchise was awarded to Arriva. The joint venture will continue to operate the Merseyrail franchise until its 2028 conclusion.[18] [19]

Abellio was shortlisted for the London Overground, South Central, Greater Anglia, InterCity West Coast, Essex Thameside and Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchises in its own right.

In April 2015, Serco, in its own right, commenced operating the Caledonian Sleeper franchise, while Abellio ScotRail took over the ScotRail franchise.[20] [21]

Abellio managed to keep the Greater Anglia franchise and will operate it until 2025.[22]

In December 2017, West Midlands Trains, a joint venture with East Japan Railway Company and Mitsui in which Abellio owns 70%, commenced operating the West Midlands franchise.

Abellio sale

In 2022, Abellio announced its intention to sell its UK business to a management buyout led by its managing director. Full regulatory approval was received in February 2023, so Abellio became Transport UK Group (TUK).[23] [24]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.serco.com/Images/230403MerseyrailPreferredBiddert_tcm3-753.pdf Serco joint venture selected as preferred bidder for £3.6 billion Merseyrail Electric network concession
  2. News: 2003-04-24 . Merseyrail franchise goes Dutch . The Telegraph.
  3. Serco-NedRailways Announced as Preferred Bidder for new Northern Rail Franchise. 1 July 2004. Strategic Rail Authority. 23 June 2009. dead. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090825141633/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/releases/sra/2004/2004b/onedrailwaysannouncedasp1487.pdf. 25 August 2009. dmy-all.
  4. News: Dutch railway to share new Northern franchise. The Observer. 2004-10-17. Juliette Jowit.
  5. Northern Secures Two Year Franchise Extension. Northern Rail. 13 May 2010. 6 September 2010.
  6. http://www.serco.com/Images/northernrail_tcm3-35551.pdf Serco Northern Rail venture awarded £530m two year franchise extension
  7. http://www.northernrail.org/news/6407 Northern Secures Two Year Franchise Extension
  8. News: Northern Rail granted franchise continuation. 2012-05-10. 2012-05-10. Rail.co.
  9. http://www.northernrail.org/news/7034 Franchise Continuation for Northern Rail
  10. http://www.serco.com/Images/CNU_14_tcm3-39582.pdf Contract News Update 14
  11. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/franchise-announcement "Railway plan puts new focus on passengers"
  12. http://www.northernrail.org/news/7605 Transformation of rail in the north
  13. http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/mergers_ea02/arriva.pdf Completed acquisition by Arriva plc of the Wales and Borders Rail franchise
  14. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/scotrail-franchise-bidders-reveal-plans-for-network-s-future-1.123317 ScotRail franchise bidders reveal plans for network's future
  15. News: UK govt awards West Midlands rail franchise to Go-Ahead Group UPDATE. AFX News Limited / Thomson Financial. Forbes. 2007-06-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20110604005717/http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2007/06/21/afx3842945.html. 2011-06-04 .
  16. News: 2009-02-02 . Foreign bids for Metro contract . .
  17. http://www.abellio.com/pers/?key=1000000113&template=uk-pressarchive1&persitem=archief&pid=25 NedRailways shortlisted for Tyne & Wear Metro franchise
  18. News: 2014-06-18 . Serco to divorce from Northern Rail partner Abellio . The Telegraph.
  19. News: North of England rail franchise bidders announced. 23 March 2015. BBC News Online. 19 August 2014.
  20. News: 2014-05-28 . Serco wins franchise for Caledonian sleeper train service . BBC News .
  21. News: 2014-10-07 . Dutch firm Abellio wins ScotRail franchise from FirstGroup . BBC News .
  22. Web site: Better journeys for rail passengers and boost for Derby train industry as new East Anglia franchise announced . GOV.UK.
  23. Web site: Abellio UK to be renamed Transport UK Group as management buyout deal completes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230301074525/https://www.abellio.com/news/abellio-uk-to-be-renamed-transport-uk-group . 1 March 2023 . 2023-03-02 . Abellio.com .
  24. Web site: Deakin . Tim . 2023-02-28 . Transport UK Group MBO of Abellio UK completes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230301162927/https://www.route-one.net/news/transport-uk-group-mbo-of-abellio-uk-completes/ . 1 March 2023 . 2023-03-02 . routeone.net .

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