Great Western Coffee Shop

So do you reckon the extra 4 will be used to enable Liverpool - London to become half hourly, or enable the Birmingham Scotland WC services to be switched from Voyagers to Pendos, removing the ludicrous situation whereby diesel services now run several hundred miles wholly under the wires. Both seem very worthy causes to me.   

Whilst this is welcoming news, Virgin Trains submitted a proposal a while ago to lenghten the trains to 11-cars with an not unreasonable increase in subsidy to pay for it. The Government rejected that proposal, preferring to wait until the franchise is re-let. This is the first I have heard 'new' sets being mentioned though, even if it is only a handful.

Even considering that this December the current fleet utilisation is being stepped up to provide considerably more seats and faster journeys, with current growth forecasts that will soon be swallowed up, and by the time these extra carriages are delivered trains will once again be struggling to cope with passenger numbers.

It's a shame that we have to wait until virtual 'breaking point' before investment is forthcoming to allieviate passengers that have suffered for years.

I hope that the 4 spares (once they have been used as subs) will go onto the Birmingham to Scotland services!

But- Virgin won't want that because it is cheaper to run diesel trains than electric ones!

The Liverpool service is staying hourly, but both the West Midlands and the Manchester to London services are being pushed up to 3tph!

The Department plans to hold an industry event on Thursday 10 April from 10am until 12pm at its Great Minster House offices in Marsham Street, London related to this (link below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/pendolinolengthening/pendolinonidustryevent

According to Wikipedia, the decision for Virgin increasing Manchester - London to 3tph has mant that many local services are to be axed! >:(

Is this true? Does anyone have a source for this/newspaper article?

2.1. Following completion of the West Coast Main Line upgrade works, in December 2008 long distance train services from Manchester will be significantly enhanced. These changes will have a consequential impact on many local rail service routes, providing an opportunity to recast services to better meet current demand.

2.2. The opportunity has also been taken to begin to implement the recommendations in the North West Route Utilisation Strategy (NW RUS), which was published by Network Rail on 1st May 2007, and reported to Members at the Policy Committee meeting on 13th July. The NW RUS recommendations have been considered in the context of Members^ known aspirations and with regard to the TIF bid.

2.3. In addition, the December 2008 changes create an opportunity to re-cast certain local services. There is some inconsistency in the provision of rail services across Greater Manchester. Ideally all local rail services should comprise simple, easy to understand, clock face timetables with minimal alterations by time of day / day of week.

2.4. It must also be noted that the proposed changes should be seen as an important stage in the on-going development of services, not a one-off change

2.5. The Appendix to this report lists these aspirations and indicates what might be taken forward in advance of December 2008. However, it is important to note that the present core frequency of services on all routes has been maintained, and in selected cases enhanced.

Are the changes bad?

The hourly Chester ^ Piccadilly service is to be retimed, with peak extras operating only between Chester ^ Stockport, due to capacity constraints between Stockport and Manchester. GMPTE will investigate through ticketing with Metrolink at Altrincham to maintain travel opportunities.

Blackpool to Buxton service replaced by
^ A Blackpool to Victoria service
^ A Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton service
^ Hazel Grove to Bolton and/or Preston services

GMPTA Aspirations. 2tph service to Victoria (Stockport MBC, Tameside MBC, GMPTA).

Outcome of Initial Discussions ^ Given the present operational constraints over the route, and the need for capital investment to achieve the above aspiration, no changes are proposed.

See
Can someone explain what a service provider is? I thought everything was in place and the ROSCO just had to order them from the manufactures. Or am I being naive?

According to the strategy, the DfT intends to appoint a 'shadow' train operator which will be responsible for taking delivery of new carriages from manufacturer Alstom and liaising with rolling stock leasing company Angel Trains, which will finance and own the new vehicles. The successful bidder would be responsible for testing the trains on the National Rail network in order to secure safety acceptance certificates and would oversee enhancements to train depots and work to extend station platforms to support 11-car services. Responsibility for introducing the new trains would transfer to the new West Coast franchise in 2012 at which point the shadow operator contract would end.

In order to be able to test the new rolling stock, the successful bidder would have to be cleared by Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation to run trains on the National Rail network. This means the contract is likely to go to an existing train operator that currently runs passenger or freight services.

The new Pendolino strategy makes clear that the DfT is not bound to proceeding with the measures described in the document so in theory Virgin could still reach agreement with the government to buy the new carriages. However, the detailed plans to introduce a shadow train operator imply that the government feels unable to reach agreement with the current franchisee. They also raise questions about whether Virgin can hope to win the new West Coast franchise, due to begin in 2012, given that the government feels it needs to work with a third party to expand the train fleet. Meanwhile, the successful bidder for the shadow contract would be able to bring its experience working with the Pendolino fleet to any bid for the new franchise.

Because Virgin wanted a 2 year franchise extension in exchange for the disruption and costs involved in adding the 2 coaches to the fleet. DaFT thought that Virgin thought they had them over a barrel, and decided to call their bluff.

 It's a bit simplistic to say that you can "just" lengthen the platforms, if nothing else the depots will need a bit tacked on to the end.

Thanks Lee for the  info re service provider.

It's good to see the DfT can make buying 2 extra carriages such a convoluted process.

Why can't whoever runs the fleet buy them add them to the untis which incidently takes a week per unit because all the computers have to be synchronised to talk to each each other? Whilst this is going on  Network Rail can lengthen any platforms or is that too simple?

I remember the first systems analysis course i went on and the lecturer walked in the room and wrote KISS (keep it Simple Stupid) on the board.  Would that staff in the DfT had been on the same course.

iirc the WCML was designed for 11 coaches, so every station shouldnt need to have a thing done to it...

Not what Railway Magazine is saying. Platform and signalling alterations will be required (along with SDO apparently!)

And you don't have to walk half the length of the trains to slam a door shut when I think about it.

Extra 106 coaches were given the go-ahead today. As a point of interest, I wonder how many times this will be "announced" by the government before they are finally put into service. 

The following bidders have been shortlisted for Pendolino Lengthening Service Provider and will receive an Invitation to Tender shortly:

* Govia Transportation Projects Limited. Govia Limited's parents are the Go-Ahead Group plc and Keolis SA

* Virgin Rail Projects Limited. Owned by a single incorporated entity - Virgin Rail Group Holdings Limited. Virgin Rail Group Holdings Limited is owned 51% by Virgin Holdings Limited and 49% by Stagecoach Rail Holdings Limited (whose ultimate parent is Stagecoach plc).

I wonder how many millions of the costs are actually for building the trains and not bought about by too many organisations havng their fingers in the pie?