Network Rail has awarded News International the right to distribute thelondonpaper in 10 mainline railway stations across London.
The authority claims almost one million people pass through the stations every afternoon, when the newspaper will be distributed.
Thelondonpaper will be able to use distribution boxes – used by Associated Newspapers' Metro in the mornings every weekday from 3pm.
Associated Newspapers retains the rights to distribute the Metro at Network Rail managed stations in the morning.
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The stations thelondonpaper can be distributed in are Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Euston, Fenchurch Street, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Paddington, Victoria and Waterloo.
Network Rail’s Deputy Chief Executive Iain Coucher said: “The award of this contract is great news for our passengers. It will secure another stream of revenue for Network Rail to invest in the railway. The fact that News International wants to distribute at Britain’s biggest stations is recognition of the fantastic commercial opportunities there.”
A seperate tender process is still underway for who will win the right to distribute newspapers at Metro's London Underground distribution racks – and a decision is expected by the end of the year.
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Thelondonpaper was launched at the beginning of September as a free daily afternoon paper just days after Associated Newspapers brought out another free daily, London Lite.
Both Associated and NI are known to have bid for Network Rail's afternoon newspaper distribution contract.
There has been widespread speculation that other bidders for the distribution deal would have lost because of the free newspaper war between London LIte and thelondonpaper – and the fact that their use of hundreds of merchandisers outside stations has devalued the position in the distribution racks.
Transport for London Transport for London, which runs Tube and bus services in the capital, said earlier this month that they were working towards a final decision regarding distribution of an afternoon paper on their network by the end of the year.
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