Abellio East Midlands Limited / East Midlands rail franchise
The CMA is investigating the award of the East Midlands rail franchise to Abellio East Midlands Limited.
Phase 1
Statutory timetable
Phase 1 | Action |
---|---|
15 August 2019 | Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted |
24 July 2019 | Decision published |
19 July 2019 | Decision announced |
21 June to 5 July 2019 | Invitation to comment |
21 June 2019 | Launch of merger enquiry |
Undertakings in lieu of reference accepted
15 August 2019: The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the anticipated acquisition by Abellio East Midlands Limited of the East Midlands rail franchise.
- (6.9.19)
- (15.8.19)
- Press notice: Norwich - Ely rail passengers to be protected by fare caps (15.8.19)
Undertakings in lieu of reference consultation
26 July 2019: We are consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of a reference for the anticipated acquisition by Abellio East Midlands Limited of the East Midlands rail franchise.
- (26.7.19)
- (26.7.19)
CMA to consider undertakings offered
25 July 2019: The CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by Abellio East Midlands, Abellio and Greater Anglia or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002.
- (25.7.19)
Reference unless undertakings accepted
19 July 2019: The CMA has decided, on the information currently available to it, that it is or may be the case that this franchise award has resulted or may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom. This franchise award will be referred for a phase 2 investigation unless Abellio East Midlands Limited offers acceptable undertakings to address these competition concerns.
- (24.7.19)
- Press release: Norwich–Ely rail passengers protected by CMA (19.7.19)
Invitation to comment: closes 5 July
21 June 2019: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is considering whether it is or may be the case that this transaction if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result, in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.
To assist it with this assessment, the CMA invites comments on the transaction from any interested party.
Launch of merger inquiry
21 June 2019: The CMA has launched its phase 1 investigation following the European Commission’s decision to refer the case to the United Kingdom under Article 4(4) of the EC Merger Regulation.
Contact
Please send written representations about any competition or public interest to:
Updates to this page
Last updated 6 September 2019 + show all updates
-
Full text of the UIL acceptance decision published.
-
Final Undertakings in lieu of reference published.
-
Published: Notice of consultation and proposed undertakings.
-
Published: Decision that undertakings might be accepted.
-
Published: full text decision.
-
Decision to refer to phase 2 announced.
-
First published.