TfL START SEARCH FOR NEXT OVERGROUND OPERATOR / RAC CARS LAUNCH FREE-TO-ADVERTISE USED CAR MARKET WEBSITE
TfL START SEARCH FOR NEXT OVERGROUND OPERATOR
Transport for London (TfL) has issued a notice with the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) to select the next train operator to run London Overground services from November 2016, with bidders having until mid-May to register their interest.
Under the new 2016 concession TfL say they will bring in new trains, higher frequency services and a continuing programme of station upgrades.
The contract will also include options to introduce an all-night service at weekends and to extend Gospel Oak to Barking line services to Barking Riverside in 2019.
London Overground will take over the operation of routes running from Liverpool Street station to Enfield Town, Cheshunt (via Seven Sisters) and Chingford, on 31 May, as well as services between Romford and Upminster. These routes will be part of the contract now open to tender and which the successful bidder will operate from 13 November 2016.
London Overground carries over 135 million customers a year, a five-fold increase over the original numbers since its launch in 2007. With the inclusion of the additional routes due to join the London Overground network in May, this number will rise to over 176 million customers a year, equating to more than 585,000 a day. (Source: Transport for London press release.)
RAC CARS LAUNCH FREE-TO-ADVERTISE USED CAR MARKET WEBSITE
The RAC say they are kick-starting a major shake-up of Britain’s used car market with the relaunch of RAC Cars, a service that allows car sellers the opportunity to advertise their vehicle online free-of-charge and reach an audience of millions within minutes.
“The move is in response to demand from consumers and dealers for an alternative to existing used car websites that charge high advertising rates” say the RAC..
“Research from the RAC shows that buyers, too, don’t want to be stung by purchasing a dud – something the new RAC Cars website has been specifically designed to address.”
More than 7.4 million used cars are sold in the UK every year, with around 2.8 million being sold privately.
“Whether the motorist is after a cheap and cheerful run-about from a private seller, or a prestige vehicle that’s been meticulously looked after by an established dealer, RAC Cars aims to provide the ultimate free search, buy and sell platform, comprehensively covering the private vehicle market, as well as independent and franchise dealers and car supermarkets.
“From 1st May the vehicle listing fee for dealers will also been waived and we are confident the move will boost the number of vehicles on its website to half a million plus making it the biggest free-to-advertise car website in the UK” the RAC say.
“Dealers have already welcomed the news which could save a medium-sized dealer with around 100 cars up to £50,000 on advertising costs a year a saving, which we are hoping will be passed on to motorists with lower ‘sticker’ prices on literally tens of thousands of cars every week.”(Source: RAC press release.)
