Philip Hammond delays Virgin Trains' west coast sale

[whole diary]

[woody]

Despite the announcement of four-strong shortlist,a new-look contract for west coast franchise will not now begin until January 2013.
It is understood that Hammond has sent the west coast contract back to the drawing board, after deciding that the outline terms due to be sent to bidders last week were not radical enough.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/may/15/west-coast-sale-delayed

[ChrisB]

Interesting - when there's plenty of press comment that Hammond is dropping everything & just going for the most money.....

[Timmer]

I do agree that the original specification for this franchise was pretty bland and uninspiring looking like just another continuation of previous franchise specifications under the previous administration. This will doubtless put the letting of the East Coast franchise back even further though I would imagine the government won't be too concerned about this as I'm sure state owned East Coast is bringing in a nice income for the government. 

[paul7575]

I do agree that the original specification for this franchise was pretty bland and uninspiring looking like just another continuation of previous franchise specifications under the previous administration...

Surely the blandness is because there hasn't been a specification published for this franchise yet, AFAICT^▸ (as far as I can tell).  According to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) announcement of the shortlist the ITT^▸ (Invitation to Tender) was still being consulted on, to be issued in May...

OTOH^▸ (On The Other Hand) Greater Anglia did have a 'carry on as now' ITT for its short (<2 yrs) replacement franchise, which was published last month...

Paul

[Timmer]

Sorry everyone. I was referring to the consultation document for the West Coast franchise and not the specification. Thanks Paul for pointing this out. Shows I don't have much of handle on the franchise process from start to finish. I thought the consultation document was the specification.

[JayMac]

The Financial Times have apparently reported that the West Coast franchise could be taken over by Directly Operated Railways (aka the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) for the intervening period between the end of the current franchise and the award of a new one. Or allow Virgin a nine month extension.....

Can't provide a link to the story as it is behind the FT's paywall, but it is mentioned on the Railway Eye blog:

http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2011/05/barbielino-confirmed.html

[woody]

Plans to replace West Coast franchise disintegrate
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2011/05/17-plans-to-replace-west-coast.html
Bring back Intercity all is forgiven!