East Midlands Trains, a prominent railway operating company in the United Kingdom, ceased operations in August 2019. Its services were subsequently taken over by a new operator, East Midlands Railway.
The Franchise Handover
The change in operators occurred as a result of the standard rail franchising process in the United Kingdom, where contracts for operating specific train lines are periodically re-tendered by the government.
The Decision by the Department for Transport
In April 2019, the Department for Transport (DfT) made a pivotal decision regarding the East Midlands franchise. After evaluating bids from various companies, the DfT ultimately awarded the new franchise to Abellio. This decision effectively meant that East Midlands Trains, which was operated by Stagecoach, would no longer hold the franchise.
Why Stagecoach Was Disqualified
Stagecoach, the parent company of the then-operating East Midlands Trains, had also submitted a bid to continue managing the franchise. However, their submission was disqualified from the competitive process. The reason for this disqualification was that their proposal failed to meet crucial employee pension obligations, a mandatory requirement set by the DfT for the franchise agreement.
The Transition to East Midlands Railway
Following Abellio's successful bid, the formal transfer of services took place on 18 August 2019. On this date, all railway services previously operated by East Midlands Trains were officially transferred to the new operator, East Midlands Railway, which operates as part of the Abellio group. This ensured a continuous and uninterrupted service for passengers across the East Midlands region and beyond.
Key Aspects of the Transition
To provide a clear overview of the change in operators:
| Aspect | Previous Operator (until 17 Aug 2019) | New Operator (from 18 Aug 2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Name | East Midlands Trains | East Midlands Railway |
| Parent Company | Stagecoach | Abellio |
| Franchise Award Date | (Pre-2019 franchise) | April 2019 (awarded to Abellio) |
| Service Transfer Date | N/A | 18 August 2019 |
| Reason for Change | Franchise re-tender; Stagecoach bid disqualified | Abellio won new franchise tender |
Impact on Services
While the operator changed hands, the core routes, timetables, and services continued largely as before, albeit under a new brand and management. The transition aimed to maintain service reliability and progressively introduce improvements in line with the new franchise agreement.
For more detailed information about the former operator, you can visit the East Midlands Trains Wikipedia page.
