| First Group win concession to operate London Overground Posted by John D at 07:32, 10th December 2025 |     |
First Group plc Regulatory Announcement
8 years (with 2 year option) from 3rd May 2026 to operate all the London Overground network (those operated by class 378 and 710 trains)
https://otp.tools.investis.com/generic/regulatory-story.aspx?newsid=2014161&cid=858
More details of the deal on TfL Board papers
https://board.tfl.gov.uk/documents/s25579/Chairs%20Action%20London%20Overground%20Concession%203.pdf
Will be some enhancements on Mildmay and Windrush lines
| Re: First Group win concession to operate London Overground Posted by Bob_Blakey at 07:38, 10th December 2025 | |
.....and maybe one or two staff shortages?
| Re: First Group win concession to operate London Overground Posted by John D at 08:22, 10th December 2025 | |
.....and maybe one or two staff shortages? 
Although obviously a joke, has made me think, could some senior First Group staff currently involved with GWR franchise/management contract, transfer to their new Overground concession to run that instead.
Not a lot of reason to stay with GWR, if at risk when GWR is nationalised later in 2026
| Re: First Group win concession to operate London Overground Posted by grahame at 08:29, 10th December 2025 | |
First Group plc Regulatory Announcement
8 years (with 2 year option) from 3rd May 2026 to operate all the London Overground network (those operated by class 378 and 710 trains)
8 years (with 2 year option) from 3rd May 2026 to operate all the London Overground network (those operated by class 378 and 710 trains)
Very interesting to see the First Group looking to their company and businesses future in the changing scene. With rail operation moving to mass transit within conurbations away from the GBR / national rail setup - what about other cities - where is the future of Merseyrail for example. Do they run any of the tram networks? Who runs the Glasgow Underground these days? Open access rail prone to expansions perhaps and/or takeovers - might they be interested in the Go-op license serving the county towns of both Wiltshire and Somerset and linking with their other open access aspiration that includes the county town of Devon? Extend the service to Hayes and Harlington for Heathrow, and to Euston which is quite close by St Pancras International, and King's Cross too with connecting Lumo trains to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Not forgetting Stirling and Blackpool.
On the buses, where are First Group headed / with pulling out of services away from the megacities - for example from Cornwall. As I recall they have an aggressive profit target for their businesses which as I understand it they sometimes can't meet whereas other operators who have less ambitious but still profitable motivation can.
.....and maybe one or two staff shortages?
Although obviously a joke, has made me think, could some senior First Group staff currently involved with GWR franchise/management contract, transfer to their new Overground concession to run that instead.
Not a lot of reason to stay with GWR, if at risk when GWR is nationalised later in 2026
Yes - that would seem to make sense for the business / a choice for some perhaps about being TUPEd into the public sector or carrying on their careers with the same company.
| Re: First Group win concession to operate London Overground Posted by grahame at 15:08, 10th December 2025 | |
A bit more at Railnews
FirstGroup, which is set to lose its remaining National Rail contracts by 2027, said it was ‘delighted’. CEO Graham Sutherland added that First was looking forward ‘to welcoming employees who will be joining the Group and to play our part in the success of this vital rail network’.
However the RMT has reacted with dismay, and pledged to resist the transfer of any more National Rail routes to the Overground system.
The union’s general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: ‘Despite the Mayor saying he backs public ownership of rail, the London Overground is being reprivatised on a lucrative eight-year deal that puts profit before passengers. It’s beyond belief, especially when a Labour government is bringing the railways back into public hands.
However the RMT has reacted with dismay, and pledged to resist the transfer of any more National Rail routes to the Overground system.
The union’s general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: ‘Despite the Mayor saying he backs public ownership of rail, the London Overground is being reprivatised on a lucrative eight-year deal that puts profit before passengers. It’s beyond belief, especially when a Labour government is bringing the railways back into public hands.
| Re: First Group win concession to operate London Overground Posted by TaplowGreen at 16:21, 10th December 2025 | |
Unions aren't happy....
https://x.com/i/status/1998733355400024390
| Re: First Group win concession to operate London Overground Posted by Western Pathfinder at 18:31, 10th December 2025 | |
Nothing New There then.
