The National Express Group team was also in Norwich to hold a stakeholder consultation meeting at Norwich City Football Club and to demonstrate the newly refurbished carriages to local groups, giving them a hint of what they can expect from Britain’s largest rail operator.

Commenting on the visit, Phil White said,

"We’ve been meeting extensively with key stakeholders across the region over recent months to ensure that the bid we submit for this franchise takes into consideration the needs of local people while reflecting the Strategic Rail Authority’s vision for the Greater Anglia region. I am confident that we are well placed to deliver to both sets of requirements and today’s meeting has further cemented this view.

Our objective is to provide the people of Greater Anglia with public transport services they can be proud of. Local autonomy and empowerment are key features of the way we operate as a Group – local management focus on local service delivery.

Due to the terms of the bid submission I cannot discuss the detail of our bid. However, in our bid we will focus on improving punctuality and reliability, customer service, safety, integrated transport solutions, marketing and further development of staff – all key elements that are required to run a quality railway.”

The new-look carriages are already in use on National Express Group’s Midland Mainline franchise, and will be introduced on some services in the Greater Anglia region if National Express Group is awarded the rail franchise.

The showcasing of the proposed carriages comes near the end of the regional consultation process. This concludes on 1st September, the date when all final bids are submitted to the Strategic Rail Authority.

For further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Notes to Editors:

1. National Express Group is a leading international passenger transport company and is the largest operator of train franchises in the UK. It is also a major operator of bus, tram and scheduled express coach operations.


2. National Express Group operates c2c, Central Trains, Gatwick Express, Midland Mainline, ScotRail, Silverlink, Wagn including Stansted Express, Wales and Borders, and Wessex.


3. An important element of National Express’ business philosophy is to attract more customers onto its services and to maximise the use of public transport systems to bring about environmental and social benefits to the communities which it serves.


4. It was confirmed on 1 April that the Group was one of the three pre-qualified bidders for the new Greater Anglia Franchise. This will combine the existing Anglia and Great Eastern franchises, and the West Anglia (Liverpool Street) services from the Wagn franchise (including Stansted Express). Current franchises are due to expire on 31 March 2004.


5. The Group is also on the shortlist for the ScotRail franchise.

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