THE Department for Transport may give FirstGroup a second direct award for the Great Western franchise, it has emerged.
The last franchise expired in October, having already been extended by 28 weeks, and was then replaced by a direct award which runs until 19 September 2015.
But in a Parliamentary answer, transport minister Stephen Hammond said: "For the period from September 2015 the Great Western franchise is planned to be covered by a second direct award franchise agreement, as the first direct award franchise agreement may not exceed two years under the relevant procurement regulations. The amount of net franchise payment and revenue support payable for this second direct award is not known since the agreement has not yet been negotiated."
It is thought that the second award could run until 2020, when it would be succeeded by a conventional, competitively-tendered franchise.