East Japan Railway (JR East) has made a joint bid for the West Midlands franchise, making its first attempt to enter an overseas market. The consortium also includes Mitsui & Co. and Dutch railway operator Abellio.
The West Midlands trains are on schedule only 87% of the time. The consortium hopes to reduce delays and increase customers by capitalizing on the Japanese strength of on-time service.
JR East is competing against a U.K.-French joint venture that currently holds the franchise on the West Midlands network.
The winner will be decided in June and it will take over the franchise and manage the service for 7-to-10 years.
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