Stagecoach to bid for Connex routes

A RAIL company sacked for failing commuters may be replaced by one with an even worse time-keeping record. Stagecoach - owner of South West Trains - wants to take over the Connex routes when the French-owned company's franchise expires in six months.

Connex was sacked by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) on the grounds that it 'failed to deliver on financial management issues'.

Stagecoach is understood to be 'seriously' considering the bid. It is the poor performance of SWT which will most concern the 500,000 commuters who use the Connex routes each day.

SWT had one of the worst records of all 10 operators serving London with only 71.3% of peak-time trains on time compared with Connex which ran 77.5% on schedule. When all-day figures are compared, SWT could manage only 72% on time compared with the 81.2% for Connex.

There was jubilation among commuters when the SRA announced it had axed Connex - joy that will now be drastically tempered.

David Cook, who commutes from Dartford to his office near Bond Street, said: 'This is the last thing we wanted to hear. We need someone to improve time-keeping, not let it get even worse.'

A spokesman for the SRA said it was not yet known who would bid. He said: 'We want some strong bidders.'

SWT may face a fight for the franchise from another major industry player, First Group, which operates the Great Western and Great Eastern rail franchises.