TPE franchise awarded to First

[thealexweb]

I was just thinking that with all the Blackpool North, Barrow-in-Furness and Windermere services being operated exclusively by Arriva, will this mean the remaining First Manchester to Preston crews will loose their Bolton / Westhoughton route knowledge? How will they maintain it between now and December 2017 when the wires are finally delivered? Could the Scottish services that are still operated with 2 x Class 185s be diverted via Bolton early to prevent retraining being needed next year? Thank you in advance.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I was just thinking that with all the Blackpool North, Barrow-in-Furness and Windermere services being operated exclusively by Arriva, will this mean the remaining First Manchester to Preston crews will loose their Bolton / Westhoughton route knowledge? How will they maintain it between now and December 2017 when the wires are finally delivered? Could the Scottish services that are still operated with 2 x Class 185s be diverted via Bolton early to prevent retraining being needed next year? Thank you in advance.

With routes being transferred, it's possible that some staff will transfer too. If that's the case those staff that move from First to Arriva will retain the 185 knowledge so if 185s stay on the route it won't be a problem. As for the interim period before the new stock arrives and wires are up, there may have to be some intricate arrangements between the two companies. However I'd guess that a couple of TPE services each week would run via the other routes so that staff can retain knowledge for diversions, which will of course be needed from time to time anyway.

 

[thealexweb]

With routes being transferred, it's possible that some staff will transfer too. If that's the case those staff that move from First to Arriva will retain the 185 knowledge so if 185s stay on the route it won't be a problem. As for the interim period before the new stock arrives and wires are up, there may have to be some intricate arrangements between the two companies. However I'd guess that a couple of TPE services each week would run via the other routes so that staff can retain knowledge for diversions, which will of course be needed from time to time anyway.

I see. Thank you

 

[geoffk]

My understanding was that the TPE Scottish services would revert to the Bolton route once electrfication was complete, but the article in Todays Railways UK 172 suggests they may continue to run via Wigan. Can this be right? Surely the extra capacity is needed at Bolton. In any case, the Arriva Rail North services to Barrow and Windermere are due to run via Wigan. As stated, TPE drivers would need to retain route knowledge via Bolton when they stop running to Blackpool.

Conversely, Arriva drivers will require to learn the Windermere route. Will Arriva take on some First drivers from April 1st?

 

[CAF397]

My understanding was that the TPE Scottish services would revert to the Bolton route once electrfication was complete, but the article in Todays Railways UK 172 suggests they may continue to run via Wigan. Can this be right? Surely the extra capacity is needed at Bolton. In any case, the Arriva Rail North services to Barrow and Windermere are due to run via Wigan. As stated, TPE drivers would need to retain route knowledge via Bolton when they stop running to Blackpool.

Conversely, Arriva drivers will require to learn the Windermere route. Will Arriva take on some First drivers from April 1st?

TPE depots currently transferring to Arriva are based in Blackpool and Barrow - these two depots sign Windermere, and will continue to work Windermere services. There will be no need to train Arriva drivers initially.

With regards to TPE depots not transferring to Arriva (Preston and Manchester Piccadilly), there will continue to be Class 156/185 operated Arriva services via Bolton worked by Preston and Manchester Piccadilly depots for upto 18 months, to enable Arriva to formulate a plan to recruit further drivers and train existing drivers on 185s if necessary. These TPE drivers will also continue to Blackpool.

So that keeps Bolton on the TPE route card.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

My understanding was that the TPE Scottish services would revert to the Bolton route once electrfication was complete, but the article in Todays Railways UK 172 suggests they may continue to run via Wigan.

It is speculative confusion such as this that certainly does not help the understanding of such scenarios.

 

[northwichcat]

My understanding was that the TPE Scottish services would revert to the Bolton route once electrfication was complete, but the article in Todays Railways UK 172 suggests they may continue to run via Wigan. Can this be right? Surely the extra capacity is needed at Bolton.

The franchise agreements for TPE and Northern show the Scottish services continuing to run via Wigan until the enhanced Northern services to Cumbria are introduced (which will run via Wigan) and once they are introduced TPE will divert via Bolton - calling only at Bolton to pick-up or set-down.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The CMA has cleared the award of the TransPennine Express rail franchise to First TransPennine Express Limited, a subsidiary of FirstGroup.

The franchise, which provides inter-urban services in the north of England, offering direct connections between cities including Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield, as well as cross-border routes from the north-west of England to Scotland, was awarded to First TransPennine Express Limited by the Department for Transport in December 2015.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) examined overlaps with other rail services and determined that the franchise does not give rise to a realistic prospect of a substantial lessening of competition (SLC). This is primarily because of the competition provided by Northern Rail on the line between Selby and Hull.

The CMA also considered whether the award could reduce the number of bidders for future rail franchises, or provide an advantage to FirstGroup the next time the franchise is awarded, but it did not regard either as a realistic prospect.

In relation to competition between rail and bus services, the CMA could not rule out the possibility that the franchise award may result in an SLC between Huddersfield and Marsden as combining its bus services with the franchise would give FirstGroup a very high share of public transport services. However, it has exercised its discretion to apply the ‘de minimis’ exception where small markets are affected, and therefore has not referred the franchise award for an in-depth investigation.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-clears-transpennine-express-rail-franchise-award

 

[northwichcat]

Just received an email from TPE saying my personal data is being transferred from First Kelios TransPennine Express to First TransPennine Express with the option to sign up for updates. Obviously they've got nothing new to report yet but will shortly.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

This is floating around facebook.....

 

[CAF397]

Underwhelmed... If that's what we've been waiting for.

 

[Darren R]

Underwhelmed... If that's what we've been waiting for.

Does it matter what the new logo looks like?

(Although I notice that the colours in that logo are the same as Northern's current livery! )

 

[WatcherZero]

This is floating around facebook.....

My first thought seeing that is a sample card (number 5) for a focus group to evaluate.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The star looks a bit odd, the lettering is very classic looking, though, which I think works in a rail context - GNER did it first in promotional material, then SWT followed in a very similar style.

 

[CAF397]

Does it matter what the new logo looks like?

Oops. My bad. Forgot opinions are not allowed on here. Apologies.

 

[northwichcat]

My first thought seeing that is a sample card (number 5) for a focus group to evaluate.

However, remember the image of the proposed new 185 interior in the First presentation had a blue interior similar to the colour EXPRESS is written in on that logo.

 

[NJF]

And it's very reminiscent of the style of the body of the email I received last week (below). It wouldn't surprise me if the star element is similar to the styled ends of the train graphics, but it definitely looks like blue is the colour of choice.

(Hello, by the way - I'm new here!)

 

[yorksrob]

Walking out of Leeds City station today, I noticed that a company called Zap were promoting an express bus service between Leeds and York.

They were offering lots of promotional goodies such as £1 fares for March (free if you have a rail ticket) not to mention free wifi and leather seats.

The thing that caught my eye is that for their normal fares they seem to be offering a Leeds - York period return for eight pounds !

It's clear which market they're going for. Will our TOC's, who've been milking Leeds to York for years, mend their ways ?

TransPenine Express, you have been warned !

 

[Bletchleyite]

Also offering free travel for rail ticket holders (clearly aimed at seasons) throughout April. Appears to be 2+1 seating upstairs, too.

 

[WatcherZero]

Has it been mentioned before that the 185's they are retaining are to be re-engined with more fuel efficent engines?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Has it been mentioned before that the 185's they are retaining are to be re-engined with more fuel efficent engines?

Can you please inform those of us who are unaware of this as to the details of these new engines.

 

[Bungle965]

CityZap is a new bus route started up by Transdev (link to the website below) the buses have been fitted with satnavs to speed up services and compete with the trains, using refurbished buses which have luxury upholstery is sure to attract more people to it. Transdev have done this before instead on the 36 route from Leeds to Harrogate where they are competing with the train using brand new again luxury buses with leather seats, power sockets, table seats, individual seats and even a library, with buses more frequent than the trains. Just shows you that the bus can still compete with the trains.
www.cityzap.co.uk
Sam

 

[brompton rail]

Walking out of Leeds City station today, I noticed that a company called Zap were promoting an express bus service between Leeds and York.

They were offering lots of promotional goodies such as £1 fares for March (free if you have a rail ticket) not to mention free wifi and leather seats.

The thing that caught my eye is that for their normal fares they seem to be offering a Leeds - York period return for eight pounds !

It's clear which market they're going for. Will our TOC's, who've been milking Leeds to York for years, mend their ways ?

TransPenine Express, you have been warned !

The bus service is run by Yorkshire Coastliner. I don't think it serves Leeds City Station though, only the Bus Station which is a fifteen minute walk away. They do serve York Station, however. Good quality leather seated double decker so, I believe.

 

[WatcherZero]

Can you please inform those of us who are unaware of this as to the details of these new engines.

I don't think there are any details yet.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Has it been mentioned before that the 185's they are retaining are to be re-engined with more fuel efficent engines?

Can you please inform those of us who are unaware of this as to the details of these new engines.

Yeah, me too.....

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Yeah, me too.....

There were mutterings about the Voith gearboxes being replaced with a ZF mechanical transmission, but the same rumours have been doing the rounds with every franchise since the Class 172s entered service with their ZF gearboxes.

 

[yorksrob]

CityZap is a new bus route started up by Transdev (link to the website below) the buses have been fitted with satnavs to speed up services and compete with the trains, using refurbished buses which have luxury upholstery is sure to attract more people to it. Transdev have done this before instead on the 36 route from Leeds to Harrogate where they are competing with the train using brand new again luxury buses with leather seats, power sockets, table seats, individual seats and even a library, with buses more frequent than the trains. Just shows you that the bus can still compete with the trains.
www.cityzap.co.uk
Sam

The bus service is run by Yorkshire Coastliner. I don't think it serves Leeds City Station though, only the Bus Station which is a fifteen minute walk away. They do serve York Station, however. Good quality leather seated double decker so, I believe.

Indeed. Will it make the railway up its game.

 

[jw]

Yeah, me too.....

Mentioned in RAIL 797's special section on the new franchises. The same section talks about TPE procuring 220 carriages and 55 new trains, which doesn't quite match the 44x5 car sums that did the rounds at the time of franchise award...

 

[WatcherZero]

Though they did say at the same time every service they operated would be a minimum of 5 carriages, either new 5 car class or 2x3 car 185, was also mention of options for extending/further units in case overcrowding became an issue so they would be able to respond faster rather than going through a new ITT.

 

[johntea]

Using the new CityZap service is around 50% cheaper than a rail season ticket! Wonder how long it takes between the two cities particularly during rush hour.

 

[bluenoxid]

Indeed. Will it make the railway up its game.

Probably not. 6/7 trains per hour with ongoing services elsewhere with contracted structure specifying the services being run vs a half hourly bus operation. The interesting bit will be the traffic. Makes the trains nice and quiet

Next stop for Transdev is Blackburn Accrington Manchester starting this weekend