HRU meets the franchise bidders

In issuing the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the next East Midlands franchise, the Department for Transport (DfT) has set out the essential specification for our train service from August 2019.  Harborough Rail Users have therefore had final consultation meetings with all three bidders on the shortlist: Abellio, Arriva and Stagecoach.
We had met all three before the ITT was issued and they have had details of our aspirations for the train service and the Market Harborough station.  We took the opportunity to bring to their attention our full response to the DfT's own consultation and talk with each about that and the ITT.  Our approach is completely independent and impartial; we want the best possible train service for Market Harborough, irrespective of who provides it.
​Franchise bidding is, of course, a competitive process and therefore the companies are as yet unable to share any plans they may have.  Similarly, the discussions we had with them were conducted in full recognition of commercial confidentiality.  Their bids must be submitted by 5th September 2018 and the outcome will be made known by the DfT in March or April 2019.  We now await the outcome!