East Coast continues to generate income for DfT

Directly Operated Railways (DOR), which currently runs the East Coast franchise as an interim measure, has reported profits, after payments to the DfT and HMRC, of £5.9 million.

Turnover was up 4.2 per cent on the previous year.

The latest results are sure to prove attractive to potential bidders, of which West Coast operator Virgin is one, for the franchise which is due to commence in February 2015, ahead of the next general election.

Chairman of DOR Doug Sutherland said: “During the year, we continued to make further good progress with the business turnaround of East Coast, and we were able to achieve the best train punctuality on line since records began in the summer of 2012, the best customer satisfaction result in the Passenger Focus autumn 2012 National Passenger Survey since rail privatisation in 1993, and the highest level of employee engagement of any previous franchisee on the East Coast Main Line. ”

One difference to previous franchise changes will be that East Coast will be the subject of a business sale to a new private sector owner.

Report by Jonathan Webb




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