First / MTR win South Western franchise 2017 - 2024, and CMA raises competition concerns (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

They are due to be getting the daily hired out unit to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) back soon?

Perhaps things have changed, but that's not according to the Southwestern franchise ITT^▸ (Invitation to Tender).   It is described as being with GWR until March 2020 - in fact the ITT basically recommends it should be transferred permanently to GWR via the Rosco...

Bidders were told to assume that there were only nine 158s available, rather than the theoretical 11 on lease.  There's another unit permanently with EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about).

Paul

[stuving]

Has anyone seen sign of a website for SWR^» (South Western Railway - about)/Southwestern? Or whatever it's called; I've not even seen the branding announced. After all they officially start on 20th August, less than three weeks away.

Of course that's in the middle of the wonderful opportunity for chaos provided by NR^» (Network Rail - home page) shutting half of Waterloo. That ought not to be so bad in itself - I'm sure a franchise handover does take several days, rather than just being a case of a wave and a "good luck!" at the door. But would you pick then to do your big publicity and launch of the brand?

[John R]

Usually on a franchise change the new website is not launched until the day of the handover, to avoid confusion, with the old url redirecting from that day. 

[paul7575]

There's been a brief on the First/MTW staff webpage that the South Western Railway brand will appear on day 1, but the 'launch' of the franchise will be on 4th September:

http://firstmtrswstaff.com/index.php/franchise-updates/

Paul

[paul7575]

Stuff now appearing thanks to a track access application posted elsewhere, I've pulled out just the Reading and Windsor lines changes as I expect they could be of most interest:

Waterloo to Reading, increases to 4tph all day, currently anywhere between 2tph and 4tphdepending on the hour in question. All services will operate via Richmond. These services also replace the Waterloo to Ascot sections of the current direct Waterloo to Farnham via Camberley services.

Waterloo to Windsor, doubles from 2tph to 4tph all day with the additional 2tph operating via Hounslow

Ascot to Guildford via Aldershot becomes two separate services groups but remaining at the current frequency
1. Ascot to Aldershot (2tph)
2. Guildford to Farnham via Aldershot (2tph)

Waterloo to Weybridge services via Hounslow becomes two separate service groups, remaining at the current frequency
1. Waterloo to Hounslow (2tph)
2. Virginia Water to Weybridge (2tph)

http://archive.nr.co.uk/browse%20documents/track%20access/1%20current%20consultations/01-08-2017%20-%20first%20mtr%20south%20west%20trains%20-%20section%2017%20-%20closes%20tuesday%2029th%20august%202017/passenger-access-application-form-p%20fmswt%20dec18%20v2.pdf

[stuving]

Stuff now appearing thanks to a track access application posted elsewhere, I've pulled out just the Reading and Windsor lines changes as I expect they could be of most interest:

If you peer at the footnotes in the service requirement charts, all of FMSWT's proposals do seem to be offered as options. No doubt their swapping bits of route between services will please some and annoy others; so it goes.

One awkward change which will annoy a few (possibly very few) is not running the Hounslow loop stoppers on to Virginia Water, but starting a separate Weybridge service there. Worse, initially they will be using the same trains and running them ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) Hounslow-VW; I can see that going down well.

That means that from e.g. Kew Bridge out towards Reading is no longer one change at e.g. Staines, but change at Hounslow and again by Staines (only 2 tph to Windsor will go via Houslow and turn right). Changing at Twickenham might be faster, but at the moment it's not valid on the cheapest ticket.

But why do they put so much of their advertising spiel into a TA? Do they really think ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) and NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are susceptible to it?

[paul7575]

But why do they put so much of their advertising spiel into a TA? Do they really think ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) and NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are susceptible to it?

Does look a bit downmarket including that sort of 'multi coloured kiddie's guide' doesn't it...

Looking at the changes across the board, including the mainline side, there's very little there that's actually extra, compared to now.  Similarly, not much that wasn't specified in the ITT^▸ (Invitation to Tender), e.g. 4 tph to Reading and Windsor. 

As you say regarding the Staines and Virginia Water area, its the detail of what is required to be changed to provide the headline 'improvements' that will gradually trickle out.  You'll see the amazing new Portsmouth Weymouth - service is just the existing routes split and rejoined, and as an another example the 4 tph Waterloo to Portsmouth all day is really just a case of running the peak extra trains all day.

The extra semi fast Portsmouth to Southampton may be a real bonus - depending on exactly when in the hour it runs it could ease the crowding on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Cardiff service significantly, but not if it runs a few minutes behind it...

Paul

[bradshaw]

This courtesy of the 'Railway Eye'

This from First/MTR...

FirstGroup unveiled the senior management team for the new South Western train operating company today, ahead of the franchise starting on Sunday 20 August.

In addition to Andy Mellors, previously announced as Managing Director, several senior directors have now been appointed. The senior team at the new South Western rail franchise contains a wealth of railway experience and brings experience in customer service from a world-leading airline.

Jacqui Dey has been appointed as Operations Director with responsibility for the driver, resourcing, planning, performance and operational standards teams.  Jacqui has previously held senior rail leadership roles, including Operations and Safety Director at First ScotRail.

Gerard O’Hanlon, from FirstGroup’s franchise bidding team, will provide additional support to Jacqui, particularly in relation to planning and performance activities where we will continue to operate joint teams with Network Rail.

Neil Drury, who led the rolling stock planning in the successful South Western franchise bid, has been appointed as Engineering Director.  Neil is a Chartered Engineer who joined FirstGroup in 2004. He has had a number of roles in First Rail franchises, including Head of Engineering at First Capital Connect, prior to joining FirstGroup’s franchise bidding team in 2014.

Alan Penlington joins from Virgin Atlantic as Customer Experience Director to lead the on-board, stations and revenue protection teams. He brings valuable experience to help transform customer experience having most recently been Head of Cabin Crew Operations and Senior Manager Customer Experience-Innovation at the transatlantic airline.

Joost Noordewier will be Commercial and Business Development Director. Joost joined FirstGroup in 2005 and led FirstGroup’s successful bid for the TransPennine Express franchise, as well as the subsequent mobilisation of the franchise.

Chris Cornthwaite has been appointed as Finance Director. He brings a wealth of experience to the new franchise having previously been Finance Director at First Capital Connect, as well as a number of roles supporting franchise development within FirstGroup.

Seamus Scallon, Safety Director, First Rail, will act as Safety, Sustainability and Security Director, pending a permanent appointment into this role.

Eye notes that none of the existing Stagecoach senior team are transferring over to the new First/MTR franchise.

That sound? That is the sound of corporate knowledge trickling away...

[Oberon]

For all the brave sounding words here I am not convinced of the new company's ability to get to grips with the South Western franchise. I admit to only using the Exeter-Waterloo line myself but when I saw no replacement for the class 159s during the franchise period - let alone greater capacity in track and signalling - I must admit my heart sank..

[ellendune]

For all the brave sounding words here I am not convinced of the new company's ability to get to grips with the South Western franchise. I admit to only using the Exeter-Waterloo line myself but when I saw no replacement for the class 159s during the franchise period - let alone greater capacity in track and signalling - I must admit my heart sank..

Urrrr... ...what is wrong with a class 159?  They are like the 158s which I regard as very good trains. 

[Timmer]

For all the brave sounding words here I am not convinced of the new company's ability to get to grips with the South Western franchise. I admit to only using the Exeter-Waterloo line myself but when I saw no replacement for the class 159s during the franchise period - let alone greater capacity in track and signalling - I must admit my heart sank..

Neither am I Oberon but that is mainly down to my biased feelings towards First Group and their ability of running the Great Western franchise and buses in the Bath and Bristol area. My heart sank when I saw they had won the South West franchise and to see them clear out the current management who have successfully run South West Trains for many years is a little concerning.

However, I'm prepared to give First/MTR the benefit of the doubt and give them a chance. Sometimes change can be a good thing. Their plans for the franchise look good but can they deliver? Time will tell.

For those wishing to see the back of Stagecoach...be careful for what you wish for may come into play.

[Oberon]

Depending on how hacked off Stagecoach are at losing  SWT^▸ (South West Trains)  this might provoke them putting together a KILLER BID, when the time comes, for the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) franchise. Now wouldn't that be a good thing. Perhaps members of this forum might suggest some of the content of such a prospective bid.

Replacement 4 car units to replace158s, 3rd platform at Chippenham, Bristol-Oxford, eventually Cambridge service? These sorts of ideas. There's a lot to play for..

On the other hand this dismissal might mean Stagecoach walks away from railways altogether. If this wasn't so serious it would be a bundle of laughs..

[John R]

On the other hand this dismissal might mean Stagecoach walks away from railways altogether. If this wasn't so serious it would be a bundle of laughs..

As well as East Midlands Trains they own 90% of Virgin East Coast and 50% (?) of Virgin West Coast, so quite a lot to walk away from, even if VEC is a bit of a basket case financially currently.

[Timmer]

On the other hand this dismissal might mean Stagecoach walks away from railways altogether. If this wasn't so serious it would be a bundle of laughs..

They are involved in a bid with Virgin/SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways) for the new West Coast franchise, a very big fish. Though they could soon be in trouble with the East Coast franchise if the curse of the 'over bid' strikes again. I fully expect them to go for the GW^▸ (Great Western) franchise.

Maybe they put in a bid for the SW franchise that wasn't ever going to win focusing on the new upcoming franchise renewals. After all they couldn't agree terms with Dft on a franchise extension. Trouble ahead on the SW line perhaps? Today's interview with Andy Mellors started the firing gun with the unions over the roll of the guard on SW services.

[Oberon]

They would be foolish to downgrade the position of guards on SW trains