Central Trains could survive two more years

From November 2005 The Railway Magazine

INDUSTRY sources expect both the Central Trains and Silverlink
franchises to be extended by up to another two years as DfT Rail
continues to work on plans to break up the Central franchise.
Currently, the Central franchise is due to expire in March 2006,
while the contract for Silverlink (which is not due to be abolished)
was extended last year to run until October 2006.
Once an invitation has been extended to companies to submit bids for
a new franchise, the process normally takes around 18 months, and with
planning for the break-up of Central still nowhere near completed, it
would be impossible to award the contract before 2007 at the earliest.
'LONDON MIDLAND' TOC:
Central's services are eventually due to be divided between existing
neighbouring franchises and a possible new 'London Midland ' train
operator, which would operate Silverlink County, West Midlands
electrics and other services centred on Birmingham.

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John Burke
WRUG