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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Stagecoach wins railway franchise | Stagecoach wins railway franchise |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Bus and rail firm Stagecoach has been awarded the contract to operate rail routes in England's East Midlands. | Bus and rail firm Stagecoach has been awarded the contract to operate rail routes in England's East Midlands. |
| The Department for Transport (DfT) said the new franchise would begin in November and run until April 2015. | The Department for Transport (DfT) said the new franchise would begin in November and run until April 2015. |
| However, the DfT has the right to end the deal after six years if Stagecoach fails to meet performance targets. | However, the DfT has the right to end the deal after six years if Stagecoach fails to meet performance targets. |
| The DfT will pay a subsidy to the firm in the early years of the deal, though over the contract Stagecoach will pay the DfT a total of £133m. | |
| Combined routes | Combined routes |
| Stagecoach is headed by Scottish tycoon Brian Souter, whose company, which began with two buses in Perth, now employs 31,000. | Stagecoach is headed by Scottish tycoon Brian Souter, whose company, which began with two buses in Perth, now employs 31,000. |
| Stagecoach UK fleet of 7,000 buses and coachesBus network from Devon to HighlandsUS fleet of 2,800 coachesOwns UK South Western rail franchiseOperates Sheffield supertram systemPartner in Virgin Rail Group | Stagecoach UK fleet of 7,000 buses and coachesBus network from Devon to HighlandsUS fleet of 2,800 coachesOwns UK South Western rail franchiseOperates Sheffield supertram systemPartner in Virgin Rail Group |
| The new franchise is a combination of the existing Midland Mainline services from London's St Pancras and the eastern section of Central Trains. | The new franchise is a combination of the existing Midland Mainline services from London's St Pancras and the eastern section of Central Trains. |
| The service includes a new hourly service between Kettering and London, and an agreement in principle to extend this service to a new station at Corby from December 2008. | The service includes a new hourly service between Kettering and London, and an agreement in principle to extend this service to a new station at Corby from December 2008. |
| It is also estimated that journey times between Sheffield, Derby and London will be reduced, saving up to 12 minutes on an average journey between London and Sheffield. | It is also estimated that journey times between Sheffield, Derby and London will be reduced, saving up to 12 minutes on an average journey between London and Sheffield. |
| Other promised improvements include £5m being spent on upgrading stations, at least 1250 extra car parking spaces and the introduction of smart card technology by 2010. | Other promised improvements include £5m being spent on upgrading stations, at least 1250 extra car parking spaces and the introduction of smart card technology by 2010. |