A consortium led by East Japan Railway Company has made a bid to run the West Midlands network franchise, the Nikkei Asian Review reported on 31 December. Other members of the consortium include Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and the Abellio Group.
They will compete against the existing franchise holder, a UK–French joint venture. The bid represents JR East’s first attempt to run an overseas train operation as it seeks new sources of growth.
The decision will be made in June.