THE four rail companies hoping to replace Connex as the provider of train services in Kent and other parts of the South East have been announced.

The Strategic Rail Authority has also confirmed plans to include domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link as part of the new Integrated Kent Franchise, which will provide rail services to Kent, South East London and parts of Sussex from early 2005.

The companies hoping to win this franchise are DSR (Danish State Railways), GNER Holdings, First Kent Integrated Railways and London South Eastern Railway.

Connex was stripped of its franchise this summer after the Strategic Rail Authority lost confidence in its financial controls.

The French company surrendered its franchise on Sunday, November 8 and South Eastern Railways have since been temporarily responsible the 120,000 daily commuters.

All four interested parties are to be sent an initial Invitation to Tender for the new franchise, and a final tender document will be issued in the Summer of 2004.

The document will request bids for operating services on the existing network, with the addition of domestic services on the CTRL from 2007.

Nicola Shaw, the Strategic Rail Authority’s managing director of operations, said: “Robust competition between the four bidders will ensure that the best operator is chosen.”