Hong Kong-based MTR Corp has significantly expanded its presence in the United Kingdom rail sector, as a partner in a consortium that won a seven-year and 2.6 billion pound ($3.3 billion) contract to run one of Britain's busiest and largest commuter networks.

The consortium, First MTR, was awarded the franchise to run South Western Trains by British Transport Minister Chris Grayling on Monday.

The South Western Trains franchise operates services out of London's Waterloo station, serving the south and west of London and as far as Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Portsmouth.