Hong Kong’s MTR Corp loses London Elizabeth line contract after 10-year run
Transport sector lawmaker says he believes failed bid unrelated to politics, while another legislator unsure over reason for ‘tough’ renewal terms
London transport authorities said GTS Rail Operations, a joint venture between Go Ahead Group, Tokyo Metro and the Sumitomo Corporation would take over from the MTR Corporation’s subsidiary in May next year. The MTR Corporation (UK) was among the three unsuccessful shortlisted bidders.
Transport for London (TfL) said on Tuesday it expected to enter into a seven-year contract with the new operator in December, with an option to extend for an additional two years.
News of the decision not to renew the MTR Corp’s contract emerged just hours after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to condemn the jailing of 45 Hong Kong opposition figures in a landmark national security case.
Asked to respond to the sentences at a Tuesday press conference at the G20 summit in Brazil, Starmer instead reiterated the importance of forging a close economic partnership with China.
He earlier met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit, where he raised the issue of jailed former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who is facing charges in a separate national security case.
