Quality decisive factor in South Western swap

First time a bidder offering lower premium payments but higher quality proposals has won a DfT rail franchise since new approach began in 2013
 
Stagecoach ordered a £210m fleet of new Class 707 trains for South Western, but First/MTR will phase them out
 
First/MTR has won the new South Western franchise despite offering to pay the Department for Transport less for the contract than incumbent operator Stagecoach. It is understood that First/MTR’s bid received a higher qual