UK based National Express have won a contract to provide railway services to the German railway industry.

National Express has taken on the running of services between Cologne and Bonn with the German rail market representing the largest in Europe.

While the contract is relatively small at £1.3 billion, it is in a market that is almost twice the size of the market in the UK, which has been damaged by the fallout of public sector procurement failings in the West Coast Main Line scandal.

In winning the contract National Express has gained a foothold in a lucrative market and offers the potential for future expansion.

“National Express is delighted to have been selected to run these two German commuter rail contracts” said Dean Finch, the chief executive of National Express.