Keolis joint venture shortlisted for London Overground franchise
A joint venture led by UK public transport operator Keolis has been shortlisted to operate London Overground under a concession by Transport for London (TfL). The new London Overground Concession is planned to run for seven years and five months, with an option for TfL to extend the contract by two years.
Keolis has formed a new joint venture with its long term partner Go-Ahead for the bid, called LoKeGo Limited (Keolis 51%/Go-Ahead 49%).
It will draw on Keolis’ UK and global experience of operating transport systems in high-density urban areas to submit a final bid to Transport for London (TfL) in autumn of this year.
Keolis and Go-Ahead have an established track record of successful joint ventures and currently operate the UK’s largest rail franchise – Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) – as well as Southeastern and London Midland through their Govia joint venture (Go-Ahead 65%/Keolis 35%).
The partners have also recently submitted bids for both the Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises.
Alistair Gordon, CEO, Keolis UK, said: “The London Overground network has helped transform mobility and connectivity in the capital since its launch in 2007. It is a hugely popular system that has set high standards in service delivery.
“We welcome the opportunity to bid for this vital and growing network that is now an essential part of London’s integrated transport network.
“Keolis looks to form best-in-class joint ventures that enable us to deliver on the long-term goals of individual franchises and with Go-Ahead we have been operating successful suburban and regional rail networks together in the UK since 1996.”
Keolis also currently operates the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) franchise in London as the lead partner in another joint business venture.