Franchise Announcement

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

They will if the (Advance) price is right!

[Zoe]

They will if the (Advance) price is right!

Will they?  You can get some very cheap fares from Exeter to London with SWT^▸ (South West Trains) and I have seen some quite cheap Exeter to London advance fares on the semi-fast Berks and Hants services but you still get quite a few people using the much faster FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services to Paddington.  I expect there's quite a bit of business travel from Exeter and so people are more likely be able to accept the higher cost of walk-up fares.

[ChrisB]

Have you read II's post that I linked to above? Does that not allay your fears? If not, why not?

[Zoe]

Have you read II's post that I linked to above? Does that not allay your fears? If not, why not?

Yes I have and I have posted in that thread.  Regarldess of any overcrowding though, is it realy a great idea to be slowing down the headline journey times?  Yes some journeys will be much quicker than now but it seems they will still be slower than the current headline times.

[ChrisB]

Those are minimum franchised times you're looking at - I reckon you'll be pleased when the actual timetable emerges.....

[Adelante_CCT]

I notice from the consultation that at least 3tph will be missing out Reading. I along with many others will have to get out of the habit of catching the first fast train out of Paddington.

[stuving]

Those are minimum franchised times you're looking at - I reckon you'll be pleased when the actual timetable emerges.....

I didn't realise the franchise included minimum - I think you mean maximum - journey times. Even if it does, that's not how that table was presented, and it's a pretty meaningless figure anyway.

The IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) spec. says both electrics and bi-modes have to be able get to Bristol in 69 minutes (stopping BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) only) or 75 minutes (all the usual stops via Bath).

I showed the figures to an area manager at the manager-bothering session at Reading this afternoon, and said he had no idea where DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) had got them from.

[TonyK]

I'm glad I didn't have time to analyse this as soon as the announcement was made - all my questions have been answered, and the debate started for me! It came as a bit of a surprise to me.

It seems it is the beginning of the end for HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) and Pacers in FGW^▸ (First Great Western) land. The cascade from Bristol area will be as welcome as the 165s will be in Bristol. This will be especially so on the Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Line, much refurbished with new CWR^▸ (Continuously Welded Rail), but still with overcrowded old stock, although the Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth) and Riviera lines will rejoice too.

meanwhile, the Bristol Post gives us its own considered opinion, and the benefit of its intensive research into the changes, in an editorial headed We Say:

The outdated facilities, seating and technology of the HSTs will be replaced by modern "Turbo" trains, bringing more services, faster journey times, more capacity, better comfort and even free wifi.

Helpfully, it adds:

Bristol is a modern city

in technology, if not in accuracy of reportage.

[ChrisB]

What I don't think we've recorded here yuet is that the Award runs until 1 April 2019 guaranteed, with an option for a further year.

Haven't yet discovered on whose side this option lies though.

[IndustryInsider]

At the sole discretion of the SoS for Transport I believe.

[Chris from Nailsea]

The announcement from Patrick McLoughlin confirms this:

The direct award secures an operator for the franchise for the 3 and a half years from September 2015 (with an optional 13 period extension at the Secretary of State^s sole discretion) ...

[TonyK]

The announcement from Patrick McLoughlin confirms this:

The direct award secures an operator for the franchise for the 3 and a half years from September 2015 (with an optional 13 period extension at the Secretary of State^s sole discretion) ...

Probably to give leeway in case of slippage in electrification and IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.).

[ChrisB]

Indeed.

Do we know what stock is allocated for the Weymouth & Portsmouth services, or is still conjecture? Can anyone point me to anything concrete in the various announcements?

[Timmer]

Indeed.

Do we know what stock is allocated for the Weymouth & Portsmouth services, or is still conjecture? Can anyone point me to anything concrete in the various announcements?

165/166 as a five car combination for Portsmouth-Cardiff services. No mention of what will be on the Weymouth line. My guess will be a continuation of 150/158s and of course the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) 'Weymouth Wizard'!

You will find a link to my source on the bottom of page 4 of this thread. Posting this on a mobile device.

[ChrisB]

Thank you! - I knew it was on this thread somewhere.