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Great Britain’s Strategic Rail Authority recently pre-qualified Sea Containers Ltd. subsidiary GNER Holdings Ltd. to submit a bid to become commuter-rail service operator for Integrated Kent Rail Franchise.

Although GNER primarily operates long-distance service, officials believe they can apply their travel expertise to help solve some of Integrated Kent Franchise’s current problems, such as poor on-time performance, according to a prepared statement.

Bids can be submitted next year; the new operator will take over the franchise’s operations in 2005. The new operator will provide service between London and southeast England, with stations in Victoria, Charing Cross, Blackfriars, Cannon Street, Waterloo East and London Bridge. The franchise also would use London’s high-speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link. The service is expected to generate $650 million in revenue annually.