FIRSTGROUP and NS (Netherlands railways) have made an updated offer for the South West Trains franchise involving investment of £2 billion.
The two companies have delivered a "best and final" offer for the franchise which is currently run by Stagecoach.
It follows an initial bid last July.
FirstGroup and NS plan to double passenger capacity over the next 20 years and introduce 1,100 new carriages.
"Seamless door-to-door" journeys are promised by integrating rail with buses, taxis and bicycles.
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