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[10 AUG 00] CHILTERN RAILWAYS NEWS
Chiltern Railways To Ride Again
BY ARRYN BUGGINS

The rail operator running trains to Warwick and Leamington has become the first in the country to win a renewed contact.

M40 Trains, parent company of Chiltern Railways, has made a £370 million pledge for a new franchise for 20 years. That includes £60 million spent over the last four years.

The company runs trains along the London Marylebone line to Birmingham Snow Hill that passes through, Banbury, Leamington, Warwick, Hatton and Lapworth.

It will introduce Automatic Train Protection (ATP) on all trains, and throughout the route on to Birmingham. Currently it only operates on the section south of Banbury, and not the section northwards through Warwickshire.

The company plans to buy 109 new trains across its 20-year franchise, all with air-conditioning, full carpets, and greater leg and arm room. It envisages doubling the number of passengers throughout its new franchise.

Trains from London and Warwickshire to Birmingham will also continue into Worcestershire, heading on to Stourbridge and Kidderminster.

Adrian Shooter, managing director of M40 Trains, said:

“We are delighted to have the chance to create the railway that our passengers have told us they want - a railway for the 21st century.

"This has been made possible in no small part by the expertise, support and encouragement of our majority shareholder Laing Investments Ltd.

"We would like to thank pour passengers, staff, rail user groups, local authorities, and local businesses who have all contributed their ideas to our plans. We look forward to working with out partners to turn these plans into reality.”

The company was formed by a management buy out of staff when the rail industry was privatised.

It is building a £5 million station by the A46/A4177 junction just west of Warwick aimed to get commuters out of their cars and onto the trains. Warwick Parkway is due to open in October.

The company is to refurbish a series of stations including Leamington, Warwick Dorridge, Solihull and Birmingham Moor Street.

SEE: [10 AUG 00]  BID TO REOPEN THE CENTRAL RAILWAY TO PASSENGERS
  

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CWN / BusinessChiltern Railways  / 10 Aug 00

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