Rail
Delivering excellence in passenger transport operations
Serco plans, manages and delivers comprehensive public transport solutions on behalf of local authorities, government departments and commercial enterprises around the world.
Serco has a worldwide reputation for excellence in public passenger transport operations. We deliver high quality services, transforming the passenger experience and focusing on improved reliability, frequency and information.
In both regional and urban environments we operate modern, reliable and safe public transport services, making us the first choice for transport authorities seeking to improve quality, value and levels of service to the general public.
A snapshot of Serco in rail
Serco owns Great Southern Rail, the operator of The Ghan, Indian Pacific, and The Overland – Australia’s most iconic rail journeys spanning the continent from North to South and East to West.
Great Southern Rail is in the tourism business over and above being a rail transport operator. It is customer focussed and committed to the growth of tourism in Australia.
Features
- 1.8 million km travelled each year
- 175,000 guests per year
- 426 employees
Serco has operated and maintained the DLR in London since April 1997. The DLR is a self-contained system with direct links to London’s underground and overground rail networks, operating in a dense urban environment. It serves large commercial developments, a growing residential population and many of London’s tourist attractions.
Serco has played an important part in making DLR one of the world’s most successful railways by delivering sustained high levels of punctuality, reliability, safety and security, winning an unprecedented number of industry awards.
Features
- 31 km automatically controlled
- 39 stations, three underground
- 94 rail vehicles
- 66 million passengers per year
- 537 employees
Merseyrail is a self-contained network of lines centred on Liverpool and was Serco’s first UK heavy rail operation. Merseyrail’s 75 mile rail network is one of the most heavily used outside London. Serco began operations on the 25-year concession with our joint venture partner NedRailways in July 2003. The public performance measure that combines punctuality and reliability, has since reached record levels, well above the national average.
Features
- 120 km electrified
- 66 stations, five underground
- 59 sets of three car electric multiple units
- 29 million passenger journeys per year
- 1,100 employees
Serco-NedRailways commenced operations of regional train services across the north of England in late 2004. The service is one of the longest in Britain, serving a number of major cities including Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield and Sunderland.
Northern Rail brings together expert services management, successful operational skill sets, modern, efficient engineering practice, and a proven track record of transport integration.
Features
- 2,680 route km
- 471 stations
- 280 train sets of up to four vehicles each
- 79 million passenger journeys per year
- Over 4,500 employees
In March 2008, Serco signed the contract to operate and maintain the Dubai Metro system. The 75 km route will form the single largest driverless metro system in the world. The metro begins operation in 2009.
Features
- 75 km
- 200 million passengers forecast
- 3000 employees