The contract is the first to be tendered by the national railway authority Jernbanedirektoratet under the Norwegian railway reform scheme. The contract comprises regional train services on Sørlandsbanen, the local train on Arendalsbanen, and the local train on Jærbanen.
The total value of the contract is around NOK 5.8 billion (€ 610 million). The traffic agreement runs from December 2019 to December 2027. It comprises an average of 5.5 million train kilometers per year over eight years.
UK-based Go-Ahead operates bus services in the UK, Ireland and Singapore, is a joint venture partner in the TSGN and South Eastern franchises in the UK and has won four rail operating contracts in Germany.
Simonsen Vogt Wiig acted as Go-Ahead’s legal advisor in the public procurement process leading to the award of the contract.