We understand that delivering on your commitments and obligations is crucial to your success, whether you are bidding for a new franchise or managing day-to-day operations.
Our team provides clear, practical legal advice to help you navigate every stage, from major project bids to the operational phases of your contracts.
We work closely with private sector operators, owning groups, and service procurers in the UK and internationally, offering you direct access to decades of experience and industry insight. Our expertise covers all aspects of franchising and concessions, on rail and buses, both in the UK and internationally – including intercity, commuter, and regional operations – as well as the direct award process.
We know that collaboration among stakeholders is key to delivering real passenger benefits. Our experience working with Operating Companies, Transport for London, Network Rail, and the Department for Transport means we can help you develop innovative solutions, such as implementing new digital signalling technology to increase network capacity.
Changes to the bus market around the globe are leading to opportunities for bus franchises and concessions and our specialist advice is valued to ensure that our clients can make the most out of these changes.
Whether you are an established operator or exploring new market opportunities, we can support you in developing effective bidding strategies for heavy and light rail, and buses, franchises and concessions, helping you achieve your goals and deliver value to passengers.
Our Services
Supporting clients with all aspects of rail and bus franchising and concessions.
- Transport for London Elizabeth Line and London Overground Concession bids
Advising on all aspects of the re-procurement of both the Elizabeth Line and London Overground, including the procurement process and procurement documentation, the Concession Agreements and other contract documentation.
Rail and bus franchise and concession bids
Advising on every round of UK rail franchising and concessions since privatisation; including English, Scottish, Welsh and TfL competitions such as West Coast (when the franchise was controversially cancelled), East Coast, ScotRail, Docklands Light Railway, Northern, East Anglia and Essex Thameside.
Advising multiple bidders on their bids for UK bus franchises, including in Manchester and Liverpool. - International operator
Advising an international transport operator in acquiring a stake in a passenger operating business in Abu Dhabi and the operations and maintenance agreement to operate services on the Etihad Rail infrastructure. - Direct awards, Emergency Measures Agreements and Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements
Advising a number of operating groups including Arriva, Transport UK and Trenitalia on their direct award agreements with the DfT and subsequent mobilisations. - Ongoing franchise/concession advice
Advising on a range of commercial relationships such as facilities management, customer interfaces, industry ticketing arrangements, procurement issues, station services, ticketing systems/equipment and other commercial contracts with goods and services providers. - Mobilisations, demobilisations and nationalisation
Advising a number of transport operators on the mobilisation, demobilisation and (in relation to rail) nationalisation of their services. - Alliancing/Partnerships with Network Rail
Advising Arriva on its partnership with Network Rail in connection with its bid for the East Midlands franchise, a key requirement of the procurement.
