Longer franchise terms could attract a new type of bidder to the market, Shooter predicts

Adrian Shooter has predicted that the government’s plan to offer franchises of up to 22 years in return for train operators making infrastructure investment could see new companies bidding for rail franchises.

The DB Region UK chairman was cautious over the prospect of the Stock Market-listed public transport groups being prepared to take the risk on delivering large infrastructure projects, however, he said it was possible that entrants from other sectors could emerge. “Different...