New South Western franchise: Awarded to First/MTR

[spark001uk]

So I mightn't need to review my user name after all...

Maybe! But also confusing it a bit more, Exterion Media (FMSWT's chosen advertising partner) has a statement on their site which mentions them as 'SWR' a number of times.

 

[Chris125]

If the twin bore bits were converted into one tunnel (like the rest of it) and the track through it singled, going through the middle, would they still be limited to using ex tube stock?

Vehicle length would still be an issue with the platform at Esplanade, and at least two overbridges - Rink Road and Smallbrook Lane - would remain serious constraints on headroom.

If you look at the dimensions of the Class 503s you can see why they were given serious consideration back in the 80s but designs with those kinds of dimensions are rare; D78s being the only obvious heavy rail possibility.

 

[Wolfie]

If I were First/MTR, I'd be quite happy for people to go on thinking that Stagecoach were running the Waterloo blockade and responsible for any problems that passengers experience. Especially if during the next two weeks it begins to emerge that not everything will be completed on time. I wouldn't want badly-informed passengers associating the First/MTR takeover with anything that might go wrong.

Which is EXACTLY why the Stagecoach media department will have their "nothing to do with us any more" press releases ready to go...

 

[urpert]

As with everything, I would think that depends on what conditions of handover exist in the SWT franchise agreement. If trains are to be debranded before handover, then debranded they need to be.

Interesting. There was very comprehensive de branding by First in the weeks before the end of the Thameslink franchise.

 

[Wookiee]

Hopefully, First/MTR put together a better website for the new franchise than the monstrosity that SWT wasted all that money on a while back...

 

[swt_passenger]

Interesting. There was very comprehensive de branding by First in the weeks before the end of the Thameslink franchise.

Famous for the idiotic deletion of the word Thameslink from station names on public signage and posters, and allegedly the word First was deleted from some first class signs on trains.

I don't think we ever found out if that was just sheer stupidity by a few individuals, or organised troublemakers, or both...

 

[ag51ruk]

Interesting. There was very comprehensive de branding by First in the weeks before the end of the Thameslink franchise.

Same for Northern - in many cases, the debranded trains and station signage haven't yet been rebranded after nearly 18 months

 

[infobleep]

Interesting. There was very comprehensive de branding by First in the weeks before the end of the Thameslink franchise.

Maybe that was because they had a fair idea of what was to come and didn't want to be tarnished by it all.

 

[CosherB]

Southampton Airport is barely used apart from Flybe. And they don't even operate what I would call "proper" aeroplanes anyway. All silly little things with massive propellers.

Sorry - calling yourself "controversial" does not entitle you to post factually inaccurate twaddle.

Whilst it may not the 'font of all knowledge', maybe you should familiarise yourself with the contents of the attached link and consider what you read.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southampton_Airport

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Sorry - calling yourself "controversial" does not entitle you to post factually inaccurate twaddle.

Whilst it may not the 'font of all knowledge', maybe you should familiarise yourself with the contents of the attached link and consider what you read.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southampton_Airport

Whoops, looks like I've insulted a Southampton Airport fan... sorry and all that!

I said "what I would call" proper aeroplanes! Oh, and I've just been told by an administrator for RailUK not to trust Wikipedia, sorry...

 

[Agent_Squash]

Whoops, looks like I've insulted a Southampton Airport fan... sorry and all that!

I said "what I would call" proper aeroplanes! Oh, and I've just been told by an administrator for RailUK not to trust Wikipedia, sorry...

OK then, here are the official figures. They're exactly the same as stated on Wikipedia.

CAA Passenger Numbers: https://www.caa.co.uk/uploadedFiles.../Table_09_Terminal_and_Transit_Passengers.pdf

Airlines: http://www.southamptonairport.com/book-flights-and-holidays/airlines/

I'd highly suggest that you take a look at the figures before making posts, and not just saying stuff that suits you. Just because you don't like the planes that fly there doesn't change the reality that it's a growing airport that needs access to public transport. I'm not a big fan of Southampton myself (prefer using Gatwick) but that doesn't mean it doesn't justify a good service.

 

[Harbouring]

Whilst the airport is a useful short haul departure point for the south coast Airport Parkway is probably more reliant on non air passengers. It's a useful access point for University of Southampton students (around 30000 plus staff) as the Unibus goes right there and avoids the city centre. Parkway would probably be the choice of a lot of Eastleigh passengers as the fast trains avoid Eastleigh. Whatever you think of little aeroplanes the station is of some strategic importance to the new franchisee as it was to the current outgoing one.

 

[CosherB]

Whoops, looks like I've insulted a Southampton Airport fan... sorry and all that!

Actually, I've never been to Southampton Airport so I have no particular opinion about the facilities etc..

All I will say is that the hard facts, kindly posted by others, speak for themselves.

Whether you consider a Bombardier Dash 8 and their ilk to be a 'proper' aircraft or not (whatever that is supposed to mean) is irrelevant to the debate regarding rail links to the airport.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It gets more confusing though, because in the track access application I linked to a few days back the new lot refer to themselves as First/MTR South West Trains Ltd, which is also abbreviated to FMSWT.



So I mightn't need to review my user name after all...

Well, even if that wasn't the case you could still keep your username in tribute to the days when you did travel with SWT!?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Actually, I've never been to Southampton Airport so I have no particular opinion about the facilities etc..

All I will say is that the hard facts, kindly posted by others, speak for themselves.

Whether you consider a Bombardier Dash 8 and their ilk to be a 'proper' aircraft or not (whatever that is supposed to mean) is irrelevant to the debate regarding rail links to the airport.

Haha. Good point.

 

[Rick1984]

Sorry for going of topic. But I couldn't believe how close Southampton Parkway station is to the terminal, about 5 steps!
And give me one of those little prop planes overt a 737 any day. Much more comfortable!

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Whilst the airport is a useful short haul departure point for the south coast Airport Parkway is probably more reliant on non air passengers. It's a useful access point for University of Southampton students (around 30000 plus staff) as the Unibus goes right there and avoids the city centre. Parkway would probably be the choice of a lot of Eastleigh passengers as the fast trains avoid Eastleigh. Whatever you think of little aeroplanes the station is of some strategic importance to the new franchisee as it was to the current outgoing one.

The last couple of times that I've been on a train that has stopped at Airport Parkway, going towards London a good few people got on and heading away from London a good few got off

 

[adamello]

Sorry for going of topic. But I couldn't believe how close Southampton Parkway station is to the terminal, about 5 steps!
And give me one of those little prop planes overt a 737 any day. Much more comfortable!

to be pedantic - 99 steps,

or so they advertise!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Sorry for going of topic. But I couldn't believe how close Southampton Parkway station is to the terminal, about 5 steps!
And give me one of those little prop planes overt a 737 any day. Much more comfortable!

Much more cramped, more like...

But hey, you are entitled to your opinion

 

[Bletchleyite]

Much more cramped, more like...

No middle seat = no bad seats = far better!

Mind you, an Embraer E-Jet takes some beating. 2+2 and even more space. Best short haul aircraft in the skies, IMO.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

No middle seat = no bad seats = far better!

Mind you, an Embraer E-Jet takes some beating. 2+2 and even more space. Best short haul aircraft in the skies, IMO.

Ok! I'll have to try one soon; nothing has ever beaten a Virgin Atlantic a330 for me though! On one next week!

Back to the topic though: Are 707s ever going to enter service with SWT? Bearing in mind they've got until the weekend to do it they're running out of time a bit, aren't they?!

 

[Bletchleyite]

They will enter service, but it may not be under SWT. They will remain in service until the new kit turns up.

 

[swt_passenger]

Back to the topic though: Are 707s ever going to enter service with SWT? Bearing in mind they've got until the weekend to do it they're running out of time a bit, aren't they?!

Had you thought of looking in the 707 thread? Test runs in passenger service have been put in for tomorrow. This isn't the first attempt though, although it comes as a bit of a pleasant surprise given the ongoing problems at Waterloo...

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Had you thought of looking in the 707 thread? Test runs in passenger service have been put in for tomorrow. This isn't the first attempt though, although it comes as a bit of a pleasant surprise given the ongoing problems at Waterloo...

Another thing I've noticed is that a considerable number of Reading services have been 458/5s recently.

 

[swt_passenger]

Another thing I've noticed is that a considerable number of Reading services have been 458/5s recently.

Has been discussed in the blockade thread, it has been to provide more capacity on that specific route.

 

[387star]

A double decker bus in fratton sidings a premonition of worst group's takeover ?

 

[[.n]]

to be pedantic - 99 steps,

or so they advertise!

Being bored one day (during a huge train delay , and having been detrained at Parkway), the best I managed was 108 steps

 

[moley]

A double decker bus in fratton sidings a premonition of worst group's takeover ?

Isn't it a Stagecoach bus?

 

[Kite159]

A double decker bus in fratton sidings a premonition of worst group's takeover ?

Depending on the handover time (say 02:00), then the first service operated by First/MTR could be a rail replacement bus from Basingstoke to Southampton

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/bus/Q50831/2017/08/20/advanced

I guess the last train under SWT will be the 01:42 London Waterloo to Surbiton?
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W36908/2017/08/20/advanced

 

[Agent_Squash]

Doesn't every operating service have to stop for 2 minutes during the franchise handover?