Great Western Coffee Shop

http://www.abtn.co.uk/press-releases/1714044-train-services-be-cut-stealth-press-release

Considering many places are trying to bring rail back it makes you wonder what is really going on. That or is this the latest plan to deal with rolling stock problems on the cheap?  :-\

  I always thought as part of a franchise agreement companies had minimum service requirements.
  It seems that this is no longer the case - unless someone knows different.
 
  But even the stations I use Newton Abbot,Teignmouth,Totnes it is noted that opening hours have become 'flexible'

There is a minimum service requirement. However in some cases the minimum service requirement is set rather lower than the level of service currently provided.

For example Exeter - Exmouth is currently ever half hour. The minimum service level specification is every hour.

Reading the DfT consultation on new franchises (where this comes from) - all it seems to suggest is that a TOC can propose to DfT that service patterns may be reduced or increased.

Same as now basically, SLCs, PSRs, 'franchise obligations, call them whatever - they are all renegotiable on either side if a case can be made.  The only complaint seems to be that a TOC and the DfT can agree to change things. As the DfT seem to publicly consult on every minor detail nowadays, and then do it all again [1] I really don't see what the big news is.

I'm thinking of the recent example in Sussex, where there was an RUS draft and formal issue, a franchise spec for consultation and then an ITT. Following ITT SN proposed to alter service patterns on the east coastway, and this was deemed OK in the franchise award. The new timetable then had to go out for more consultation...

Where does it all end?

Paul