Rail Franchise Runners Announced

[6rdfar90]

For the Southeastern Franchise. Winners expected to be announced in Summer of next year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7571821.stm

[JSReeves86]

For the Southeastern Franchise. Winners expected to be announced in Summer of next year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7571821.stm

Its the South Central franchise not the IKF (which GoVia have) Basicly its Southern. Personally I do hope GoVia retain it as they seem to be doing a fine job with both franchises.

[MoonKid47]

Personally I do hope GoVia retain it as they seem to be doing a fine job with both franchises.

Knowing the DfT, someone else will get it instead

[chriscooper]

"We want passengers across the franchise area to see improvements - longer trains, safer stations and later running services."
I presume he means running later into the evening, rarther than running later

No First again. Hopefully be either Govia or Nedrail.

[glasgowworks]

No First again. Hopefully be either Govia or Nedrail.

First is not included in the bid at present!

[enotayokel]

later running services

I thought Southern were 24 hours already?

[wertyuv]

Nope. Last train i think is around 3ish and then resumes around 5. However i think the Gatwick express serive will be 24 hour. I think that Govia should be given it back however as Moonkid47 said they might give to someone else

[danny3]

Govia have done a good job with Southern, they improved it a lot since they took over from Connex (although that probably doesn't take much), personally i think that southern should keep the franchise although for some reason i just have this feeling that Dft would rather give away franchises to other companies if the current one is doing fairly well. (i.e. when the francise ends)

[BR7MT]

It will go to the bidder that will pay back the highest premium to the Government for running the franchise. Unless the Government have learnt from the failure of that system with First Great Western.

Regards,

Dan

[Pompeyfan]

the bidders are... from TRC..

NedRailways South Central Limited (NedRailways Limited)
* NXSC Trains Limited (National Express Group plc)
* Southern Railway Limited (Govia Limited)
* Southern Trains Limited (Stagecoach Group plc)


who are nedrailways? what else do they run? i can't see NX group getting the franchise, i cant see Govia loosing the franchise TBH, was suprised not to see First Group, but very supprised to see Stagecoach group, (SWT, EMT, Virgin(?) and island rail) i actually wouldn't mind stagecoach group, and there is nothing nasty to pick up, the stocks all new (bar the 455 and 456) and you could possibly see a 442 returning to stagecoach livery.. :O

[bgstrowger]

Nedrailways is the UK operating arm of Nederlandse Spoorwegen. In conjunction with Serco, they already operate the Northern Rail franchise and the Merseyrail concession.

[richard222]

you could possibly see a 442 returning to stagecoach livery.. :O

Nah. Why would they be acceptable for ST but not SWT?

[Pompeyfan]

you could possibly see a 442 returning to stagecoach livery.. :O

Nah. Why would they be acceptable for ST but not SWT?

becaause they would inherit the stock, and i've just though... imagine a 377 in SWT white, and imagine a 466 in SWT red....

[wertyuv]

you could possibly see a 442 returning to stagecoach livery.. :O

Nah. Why would they be acceptable for ST but not SWT?

becaause they would inherit the stock, and i've just though... imagine a 377 in SWT white, and imagine a 466 in SWT red....

Imagine a 377 in Nedrail colours?. I recon the 442s would look good in Govia Green. Anyone agree?

[mattvince]

The South Central franchise as offered is fairly unattractive - just shy of six years, and the requirement to assist in delivering the two big current engineering schemes in London (Thameslink and East London Line Extension), both of which will be extractive of revenue once in operation. There is not that much that can be done within that time - recasting the whole timetable isn't worth it (especially as it will only be completely revised again in 2015). The approaches to Victoria and London Bridge are pretty saturated, so running additional trains isn't really an option, especially as the length of the franchise makes leasing additional rolling stock (beyond possibly the remaining seven Wessies - although even their usefulness is extremely limited) unattractive to both bidders and ROSCOs. Even worse will be when the London Bridge works kick in - peak-hour services will have to be reduced (although lengthened to 10/12-car formations to avoid a shortfall in overall capacity) due to losing a number of the low-level platforms. So the combination of major disruption in the core of the South Central network, plus limited revenue growth opportunities, has probably led to some of the big names not being interested - no FirstGroup, no Arriva, no MTR (Hong Kong Metro), no DB Group (formerly Laing, aka Chiltern).

Of those who are: Govia - incumbent. NX has lost franchises hand over fist, so will bid for everything going. NedRailways - only two franchises, the wildcard in the pack. Stagecoach - only 2.49 franchises (Island Line was merged with South Western at the last franchising), and South Central is the only game in town for the next few years.