West Coast Main Line franchise shambles - possible impact on Great Western franchise?

[whole diary]

[TerminalJunkie]

It might get interesting in the (admittedly, unlikely) event that the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) win - after all, if they can get a refund when the conditions say they are not entitled to one, there might be a flood of similar claims from passengers who held advance tickets they didn't use...

[JayMac]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Rolling stock fear over West of England rail franchise

Rail services in the West of England will stagnate following the collapse of the West Coast mainline franchise deal, regeneration experts fear.

The West of England Partnership said it had been told in government talks there would be no investment in rolling stock during an interim two-year franchise.

In October, the government scrapped its decision to award the ^5bn franchise to FirstGroup.

The government declined to comment on the partnership's claims.

However, a spokesman for the Department for Transport said it would negotiate an additional two-year current with the current operator in 2014 and it would seek the "best deal for taxpayers while maximising additional benefits for rail passengers".

"The longer-term proposals for the Great Western franchise will be set out in the spring," he added.

The WEP supports economic growth and investment in the region and represents the four unitary authorities for Bristol, Bath and Weston-super-Mare.

It said during talks the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) "indicated there will be no service enhancements or additional rolling stock for the West of England area".

Julia Dean, from the WEP, said they were "disappointed" as rail travel was growing in popularity and there was already over-capacity on some lines.

Rob Dixon, from The Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways)), said the decision would result in overcrowding along popular routes such as the Severn Beach line, which now attracts more than one million people a year.

He said: "We are concerned the railway is effectively being run from London whereas we want it run by an integrated transport authority based in our area, because we think people around here know what people want."

A spokesman for FirstGroup confirmed it was in discussions with the DfT about the opportunity to continue the franchise for a further two years beyond October 2013.

[swrural]

Julia Dean, WEP, has presumably been misquoted.   

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Rail franchising: Ministers to restart process

The rail franchising process is to restart, the government will say on Tuesday, six months after the collapse of the West Coast deal stopped it.

Ten of the country's 16 franchises are due for renewal before the general election, expected to be held in 2015, and a timetable will be set out.

Ministers will prioritise the East Coast line deal, BBC transport correspondent Richard Westcott says. It has been in public hands since National Express gave it up in 2009.

It is thought other franchise contracts will be extended to give officials more time to deal with the process.

Rail franchising was put on hold last year after a decision to award the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)'s multi-billion-pound West Coast Main Line rail franchise to FirstGroup was scrapped by the government.

The transport secretary found there were "significant technical flaws" in the bidding process because of mistakes by Department for Transport staff and three civil servants were suspended.

Virgin Trains, which was given the right to run the West Coast line for a further two years while the system is sorted out, is understood to be keen to bid for the new East Coast contract.

Its contract to run the West Coast is also expected to be extended by another two years.

Any new franchise deals will put the focus more on passengers' views and satisfaction, our correspondent added.

[swrural]

I hate this 'will say' reporting.  I can only assume the Speaker has given up.  I thought he was going to come down like a ton of bricks on this discourtesy.

On the subject, note the last sentence.

'Any new franchise deals will put the focus more on passengers' views and satisfaction, our correspondent added.'

If you remember I raised this here before.  How does a new entrant bidder establish a track record he does not have?  Does he just promise to pay 'fines' if he gets a bad press he did not deserve?  I would need to ensure that all polls really were that and not voodoo polls if I were making those promises. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

I hate this 'will say' reporting.

I merely quoted the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) ... 

[swrural]

Yes I know that  - I was just writing about I hate it.      

[Plymboi]

West coast extended til 2017
Northern and TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) 2015
Crosscountry given 6 year extension til 2020

Great western remains unchanged.

[brompton rail]

XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) extended to 2020?!

We are all doomed.

[Network SouthEast]

West coast extended til 2017
Northern and TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) 2015
Crosscountry given 6 year extension til 2020

Great western remains unchanged.

CrossCountry is getting a 43 month extension, not a six year one.

First Great Western is getting an extension from this October to July 2016 (33 months).

You can read more on the Department for Transport site here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/franchise-announcement

[Plymboi]

West coast extended til 2017
Northern and TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) 2015
Crosscountry given 6 year extension til 2020

Great western remains unchanged.

CrossCountry is getting a 43 month extension, not a six year one.

First Great Western is getting an extension from this October to July 2016 (33 months).

You can read more on the Department for Transport site here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/franchise-announcement

Was meant to say 4 year extension.

Oh so it has. I looked at a diagram earlier which showed it as unchanged. Which I did think was odd. Thanks for clearing that up, best to read an article then a picture ha.

[ChrisB]

From a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) release circulated to the Customer Panel....

Update on FirstGroup rail franchises
Following an announcement by the Department for Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) today, I can confirm to you the following with regard to our First Capital Connect, First Great Western and First TransPennine Express rail franchises.

The First Capital Connect franchise will continue beyond its current planned end date of 14 September 2013. As previously indicated the DfT is to exercise the option in the current contract of a 28 week extension. As well as this, we will continue our discussions in respect of an agreement for the franchise to continue for a further period of six months, to an end date of September 2014.

The First Great Western franchise will continue beyond its current end date of 31 March 2013. As previously announced, under the terms of the current franchise agreement the 28 week extension period will be activated. In addition we are in discussions with the DfT in respect of an agreement to continue the franchise for a further 33 months to July 2016.

 The First TransPennine Express franchise will continue beyond its current end date of April 2015. We will begin discussions with the DfT regarding a ten month extension to the current franchise to February 2016.

With the DfT also publishing the timetable setting out the return to rail franchising today, the extension of our three franchises provides continuity and consistency for our customers and enables us to continue to deliver considerable improvements to services. We can now look forward, reviewing the details of the upcoming franchise competitions as they are announced while continuing to provide the best service for our customers.
Vernon Barker MD ^ UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Rail

So, they're NOT 'getting' anything just yet. Discussing with, in respect of an agreement to get....slightly different.
The DfT has lost a lot of money. FGW get the full length franchise. Which SoS signed that one off then?

[Plymboi]

Here is the diagra, I referenced to.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/170565/rail-franchise-schedule.pdf


And..... It shows it as extended ha ha ha. That probably because I read at 8am and half asleep

[ChrisB]

That might be quite significant....

[ChrisB]

Interestingly, Phil Haigh at Rail magazine has picked up an anomoly in the various statements put out today.

In this one, the SoS says

For Great Western, our plan is to put to market a competed management contract in 2016

In the graphic referred to by Plymboi, it states 'new franchise'.

Those aren't the same animals, by a long chalk.

In the Prior Information Notice, dates are set out for the GW^▸ (Great Western) contract (whichever it is) as follows -

Publish OJEU (Official Journal of the EU^» (European Union - about) - the journal all EU contract offers have to appear in. One for the Abbreviations, I guess!) - October 2014
Issue ITT^▸ (Invitation to Tender) - March 2015
Contract Award - March 2016
Contract Start - July 2016