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Serco-Abellio (formerly Serco-NedRailways) is a joint venture between Serco and Abellio, each owning 50%. The joint venture formed and owns one train operating company in northern England. It has operated the Merseyrail franchise since July 2003 and operated the Northern Rail franchise from December 2004 until March 2016.
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Serco-Abellio also lodged unsuccessful bids for the Wales & Borders, West Midlands and Tyne & Wear Metro franchises.
Serco is a UK public listed company providing outsourced public sector services internationally, including the operation of public transport systems. Abellio is a subsidiary of the Dutch state railway company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen.
Merseyrail
In April 2003 Serco/NedRailways was awarded the Merseyrail franchise for 25 years from July 2003.
Northern Rail
In July 2004 Serco/NedRailways was awarded the Northern Rail franchise for six years and nine months from December 2004 with a two-year extension subject to performance targets being achieved.
In May 2010 the Department for Transport confirmed that Northern Rail had met the performance targets and the franchise was extended for two years until September 2013. In May 2012 the Department for Transport granted Northern Rail a six-month extension until March 2014. In March 2014 the Secretary of State for Transport announced a direct award until 4 February 2016, later extended to 31 March 2016. The franchise was taken over by Arriva trading as Northern on 1 April 2016.
Bids
The joint venture was also shortlisted for a number of other rail franchises:
Partners operating independently
In 2014, it was confirmed that each partner bid independently for the 2016 Northern franchise. Only Abellio made the shortlist of three bidders. The joint venture will continue to operate the Merseyrail franchise until its 2028 conclusion.
Abellio was shortlisted for the London Overground, South Central, Greater Anglia, InterCity West Coast, Essex Thameside and Thameslink Southern & Great Northern franchises in its own right.
In April 2015, Serco, in its own right, commenced operating the Caledonian Sleeper franchise, while Abellio ScotRail took over the ScotRail franchise.
Abellio managed to keep the Greater Anglia franchise and will operate it until 2025.