The government has announced two invitations to tender for rail franchise opportunities with Essex Thameside and Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN).

Available from today (September 26th), the invitations ask bidders for detailed plans of what will be delivered if they win the competition.

These will be the first available to bidders since the Department for Transport started its rail franchising scheme in March this year.after the Brown review.

Rail minister Simon Burns said: "We are now looking for innovative bids that provide value for money for taxpayers and put passengers right back at the heart of our railways."

Successful bids are aimed to be announced in May 2014. The contract for Essex Thameside will start in September and run for 15 years and the TSGN tender will run for seven years, with the Great Northern scheme starting in September and the Southern section phasing in by July 2015.