The agreement includes a contract for Canadian train and plane maker Bombardier to build 660 new carriages at its Derby, central England factory, to expand capacity on the routes.
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Weekday services to Cambridge, Norwich, Stansted Airport, Lowestoft, Southend and London Liverpool Street will also increase by 13 per cent.
The deal included a 1 billion pound ($1.3 billion) contract for Bombardier to supply new trains from its United Kingdom base, and would cut journey times on routes between London and the eastern English cities of Cambridge and Norwich, the UK’s Department For Transport said on Wednesday. And as we set about growing our economy, winning new investment and securing new jobs, we can say with growing confidence that the East is a modern, mobile and accessible economy, fit to compete and win in the United Kingdom and global marketplace.
The UK’s Department for Transport on Wednesday said the East Anglia rail franchise has been awarded to Abellio East Anglia, which will take on the franchise from October 2016.
“By awarding this franchise to Abellio East Anglia we will improve journeys for people in East Anglia”.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, who announced the contract during a visit to Bombardier in Derby, said: “We are making the biggest investment in the railways since the Victorian era”.
“Abellio’s decision will ensure our train building industry in Derby remains strong”.
Bombardier was one of two train manufacturers in the frame for the commuter train fleet, the other being German firm Siemens.
He said choosing Abellio and Bombardier was part of the government’s plan to spread prosperity throughout the country.
“It will enable us to build on the successes of the two short East Anglian franchises we have run since 2012, and we commend the DfT in running a transparent and rigorous procurement process”.
It is promising to deliver “faster, more frequent” services by cutting average journey times by 10% across the region, and introduce more than 1,000 new carriages by 2021.
Theresa May became Britain’s prime minister last month after Britain voted to leave the European Union in June.
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The new franchise will accelerate inter-city services on the London Liverpool Street – Ipswich – Norwich line to achieve the “Norwich in 90” aspiration of the Great Eastern Main Line Taskforce. The others were First Group and National Express.
