Cross rail operator shortlist announced

[snoggle]

The shortlisted bidders to run the Crossrail service under contract to TfL have been announced in the FT and by Crossrail.

Press release

The successful shortlisted bidders are

Go Ahead & Keolis
National Express
MTR
Arriva

The following were not successful

First Group
RATP
Stagecoach

The bidding process starts in September 2013 with an aim to conclude the process by end 2014. The contract is expected to run for 8 years with an optional 2 year extension.

I am slightly surprised that RATP and Stagecoach did not make it through the shortlisting process.

[snowman]

The start is also phased (but not yet finalised), and seems to have slipped considerably from the original early 2018 full service, latest proposed schedule is

May 15 is take-over of Liverpool Street - Shenfield (with existing rolling stock until new trains arrive 2017)
May 18 Paddington (main station)- Heathrow
Dec 18 Paddington - Abbey Wood
May 19 Paddington - Shenfield
Dec 19 Maidenhead added and full 24 trains per hour (peak) service