The new operator of the East Midlands rail franchise has been officially confirmed - despite transport firm Stagecoach launching legal action against the Department for Transport.
Dutch company Abellio was officially announced as the new operator on May 9 after it was announced as the "winning bidder" for the contract last month.
It said it would invest £600m in improving services across the network.
Some of the money will be spent on making trains longer and increasing the amount of seats available on services from Nottingham to London.
Dominic Booth, managing director of Abellio UK, said: “Abellio is pleased and proud to have been confirmed as franchisee for the East Midlands Railway.
“We are looking forward to working with the East Midlands Trains management and frontline team who have laid such excellent foundations for us to build on to deliver the vision developed with local people and stakeholders.
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“With all trains replaced and much higher capacity, our new franchise will renew the railway and support communities large and small across the East Midlands and beyond.“
Abellio said it would work closely with Network Rail "to maximise the benefits" of the ongoing £1.5 billion Midland Main Line upgrade.
A Department for Transport spokeswoman added: "We have now signed the contract confirming Abellio as the new operator of East Midlands Railway from August 2019.
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“By delivering state-of-the-art trains with more seats, improved stations and trialling hydrogen fuel cell technology, this new franchise will ensure better journeys for passengers and play a major role in building a railway fit for the future.”
Stagecoach, which operated the service under the East Midlands Trains subsidiary, had been awarded an interim contract for the franchise in February, to run until August.
The organisation said it had been shortlisted by the Department for Transport in the franchise competition, as well as two others, but was later excluded for submitting a non-compliant bid, principally to do with pension risks.
And it said it had "no option" but to launch legal action against the Department for Transport.
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