Thelondonpaper Wins Network Rail Contract

New free newspaper, thelondonpaper, has won the contract to distribute copies of the title at Network Rail mainline stations in the afternoon.

The News International title beat rival London Lite, published by Associated Newspapers, to the contract. Thelondonpaper can now use the Network Rail dump bins, at Kings Cross, Victoria, Waterloo, Liverpool Street, Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Euston, Fenchurch Street, London Bridge and Paddington stations, between 3pm and 9pm (see Bids Wanted For New Commuter Newspaper).

Associated Newspapers, which also publishes Metro, the free morning newspaper, retains the rights to use the bins in the morning.

Thelondonpaper, which recorded a lower ABC figure than its competitor, 327,120 compared to the Lite‘s 359,389 (see London Lite Wins Battle Of Free Papers For September), will be given a boost with the rail contract, which will deliver a potential audience of nearly one million passengers.

The news could also further harm the Evening Standard, which dropped to its lowest ever circulation figure last month, shedding almost 24,000 copies since August to leave its September ABC at 238,936 copies a day. However, after raising the paper’s cover price by 10p (see Standard Raises Price As London Lite Launches), the title’s daily revenues were actually up in September, from £107,362 a day to £119,468.

Transport for London is operating a much larger tender for the afternoon rights to its London Underground stations. These sites are used by Associated’s Metro in the mornings. The TfL tender should be announced by the end of the year.

News International: 020 7782 3922 www.newscorp.co.uk