Patrick Verwer, London Midland's managing director, said the franchise extension would give the company the stability to "continue to improve our service and focus on providing the reliable, consistent service our passengers expect and deserve".

BBC: London Midland rail franchise extended

It may seem outrageous to extend the vote to children, but the extension of the franchise to women was also opposed.

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It unveiled first-person shooter Killzone: Mercenary, an extension to a popular franchise, and Tearaway, an adventure game set in a world made of paper, developed by Media Molecule - the team behind the best-selling LittleBigPlanet.

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Is the number four an indication this is the extension of some well-established franchise?

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They signed franchise player David Wright to an eight-year extension this winter.

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Abrams told EW in November that he wouldn't be taking the reins of another intergalactic franchise: Disney's upcoming "Star Wars" extension.

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The slugger rejected a multiyear extension last offseason that was said to include a small percentage of the franchise and cut off negotiations on the first day of spring training.

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Lord Philip Hunt, who called for London Midland to have the franchise taken away last year, said he was "absolutely shocked" to hear about the two-year extension after the company's "appalling performance".

BBC: London Midland rail franchise extended