ABELLIO, the current operator of the Greater Anglia train route, has been awarded a long-term franchise which will run for the next nine years.

The Department for Transport has announced the Dutch company, which originally took on the route serving Essex and East Anglia in 2012, will take on the long-term franchise from October.

It has been selected ahead of rival bids from First Group and National Express.

Abellio's bid includes a commitment to 1,040 new carriages along the route, running 90-minute services between London and Norwich on weekdays and cutting journey times by ten per cent across the region.

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A £1billion contract with train manufacturer Bombardier will provide 660 carriages.

The contract also commits Abellio to providing a free wi-fi service across the entire route.

The franchise is being billed as providing a £1.4billion investment in rail services.

According to DfT, by 2021, there will be more than 32,000 more seats on services arriving at London Liverpool Street in the morning peak, while the new franchise will introduce more services to Southend Victoria and Stansted Airport.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "We are making the biggest investment in the railways since the Victorian era. By awarding this franchise to Abellio East Anglia we will improve journeys for people in East Anglia.

"This is part of our plan to make an economy that works for everyone – not just the privileged few – by ensuring prosperity is spread throughout the country.

Dominic Booth, managing director of Abellio UK, said: "This is great news not only for Abellio but for the whole of East Anglia. We are pleased to become preferred bidder to deliver a transformation in rail services across the region.

"It will enable us to build on the successes of the 2 short East Anglian franchises we have run since 2012, and we commend the DfT in running a transparent and rigorous procurement process.

"Our plans will greatly improve our customers’ experience with faster and more reliable journeys on new trains with higher frequencies and reduced journey times, to support the socio-economic well-being of East Anglia, one of the country’s most successful and fastest growing areas."

The new franchise will run from October 2016 until 2025.