FGW Franchise

[whole diary]

[centralman]

As discussed in another thread, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is ending it's franchise earlier due to the clause.

Question : If First Group dont win it again, who would you like to run it and why?

I would like to see Arriva (Deutsche Bahn owned) run it but under the german Deutsche Bahn name. The reason behind this is I think that if it had the german name and maybe bought in the management from Germany to run it, I believe they could have more guts to fight against network rail for improvements. Also I like the colour scheme!

Can't wait to hear other opinions on who should run the franchise in the West.

CentralMan

[ChrisB]

If First Group dont win it again, who would you like to run it and why?

I would like to see Arriva (Deutsche Bahn owned) run it but under the german Deutsche Bahn name, as I think they would do a good job at running it.

Do you want to answer your own question in bold, centralman, to start us off.

[centralman]

Thanks for that. I think I have done it correct now!

My first thread So all new to me!

[ChrisB]

No, sorry, that's not what I meant....

Can you expand on that, I meant - most TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) would make a reasonable job.

Why DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about)? They own CrossCountry & I wouldn't want their management involved in any way! - for example.....

[centralman]

I was on a spur of a good idea at the time and then thought how can I write this correctly.

I have changed the post now to why I think they would do good.

[Not from Brighton]

I've always thought Stagecoach have made a good job of SWT^▸ (South West Trains) so they'd have my vote. I wonder though, just because a company has been successful with one franchise, would they necessarily do a good job with another?

[LiskeardRich]

Not from Brighton, i'm not sure if the competition commitees would allow them to have all london-westcountry services

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

anyone but arriva !!!!! .... reason: i have used xc

[centralman]

Thats because they havent got the good German execs!

Bring some over from Germany to run the franchise and Im sure it would improve!

[anthony215]

I wouldnt mind giving Govia a chance, certainly hope it doesnt got to Veolia/Transdev , especially after the way they have run the buses in south wales and treated some of us staff.

personally my money is on first winning the new franchise  (unless they get the east coast franchise)

so here in order i who i think would win the next FGW^▸ (First Great Western) franchise:

• First
• DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about)

• Stagecoach
• Govia

[ChrisB]

Hmm, aren't DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) going for West Coast? Would a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) get two long-distance franchises?

[vacman]

DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) are trying to worm their way out of investment with Chiltern, Govia and Stagecoach have destroyed ticket office open hours and culled loads of staff (SWT^▸ (South West Trains) basically got rid of their entire Revenue Protection team), Arriva are appaling in both XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) and ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))), Virgin wouldn't be too bad, Abellio..... well just look at that excuse of a franchise thats called Northern! first are far from perfect but atleast they havent closed every other ticket office, layed off loads off staff and having the balls to basically turn around and say that they got it wrong with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and have implemented change to reverse the initial cock up by the bid team! NX are going down the pan aswell, for me it would have to be First again or Virgin (albeit 49% owned by stagecoach!

[vacman]

personally my money is on first winning the new franchise  (unless they get the east coast franchise)

I doubt winning East coast would be dubbed as a monopoly to prevent them winning GW^▸ (Great Western).

[ChrisB]

Hmmm, I'm not so sure.

[anthony215]

Yes but would first bother again with the Great Western franchise if they won the east coast franchise?

I agree that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were bad when they started off, but they have  put their hands up and said they had made a screw up and would do their best to sort it out. They have picked up their act  lately, although a lot of their problems are lack of  rolling stock.

I think whoever gets the next Great western franchise would consider if they get a long enough franchise investing in brand new rolling stock, maybe ordering those 11, 4 carriage class 172's for the Cardiff - Portsmouth Hbr route. This will allow the class 158's to be re-formed back into 2 carriage sets which can run together duirng  busy times forming a 4 carriage train.