http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press-cent...t.asp?prID=984

"Transport for London (TfL) has announced that MTR Laing and Go-Via have
been selected to submit a 'best and final offer' for the contract to run
London Overground services on the integrated North and East London
Railways, under the management of TfL."

Interesting choice - nice to see MTR are in the running. National
Express and Nedrailways are out.

This creates an interesting potential situation if Go-Via win this *and*
the West Midlands franchise as effectively the current Silverlink
operation (plus some bits) will have transferred from Nat Ex to Go-Via.

I rather hope MTR Laing get it as the MTR (in Hong Kong) is phenomenal
in terms of its reliability, lack of incidents and good asset
management. Laing are not without some credit as Chiltern seem to be
considered to be one of the better franchises. If MTR can deliver the
same sort of HK reliability on the Overground network then that will be
some achievement and might put Network Rail under a bit of pressure!
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!