What Now For East Coast?

[trainfanatic]

The new Conservative Transport minister must at some point start turning his attention to the future of the renationalised East Coast franchise. Nationalised industries are anathema to the Tories and with the urgent requirement to raise cash, I guess they will soon be looking for suitable bidders to take over from East Coast. But who could be in the running? Not DB in my opinion....they already have a stranglehold on the industry especially with the recent takeover of Arriva. So, where and who now?

 

[Geezertronic]

VT might swap West for East?

 

[route:oxford]

The new Conservative Transport minister must at some point start turning his attention to the future of the renationalised East Coast franchise. Nationalised industries are anathema to the Tories and with the urgent requirement to raise cash, I guess they will soon be looking for suitable bidders to take over from East Coast. But who could be in the running? Not DB in my opinion....they already have a stranglehold on the industry especially with the recent takeover of Arriva. So, where and who now?

I'd go for DB! If the "stranglehold" over the industry means that that the high service standards of Chiltern and the excellent inter-city experience of W&S are subsequently delivered on Arriva & East Coast it can only be a good thing. I wouldn't choose the current East Coast restaurant/buffet experience over W&S...

With the XC/EC overlap extending from Glasgow Central down to Doncaster, would it really be a bad thing for a single operator to run them? Perhaps the 5 XC HSTs would be better utilised if part of a broader pool.

 

[trainfanatic]

VT might be a better 'fit' than anyone else out there. Don't get me wrong, I think DB have done a good job on both W&S and EWS, but surely any approach from DB must be an automatic referral to the competition commission (or is that anti competition commission?)

 

[asylumxl]

Didn't Branson essentially drop a broad hint that if he won another franchise (ECML or WCML renewal) he'd be more than willing to invest his own money into the infrastructure and stations.

With all the talk of "value for money" by the Tories, surely giving Branson what he wants could only be a good thing for the ECML?

 

[boing_uk]

I dont see how there is that much competition on the franchised railways anyway, so does it really matter if one company or a multitude of companies run the franchises?

 

[Aictos]

Didn't Branson essentially drop a broad hint that if he won another franchise (ECML or WCML renewal) he'd be more than willing to invest his own money into the infrastructure and stations.

With all the talk of "value for money" by the Tories, surely giving Branson what he wants could only be a good thing for the ECML?

Being Bias I would like First to be considered for the East Coast but I wouldn't object to Virgin IF he puts his money where his mouth is and gets on with the much needed upgrade of ECML stations, Peterborough for one needs to be done!

 

[devon_metro]

VT might swap West for East?

Surely West coast is far far more lucrative than the East coast?

 

[mumrar]

They won't let Virgin be the sole express operator with a monopoly of London to Scotland. As for DBs takeover of Arriva, it's yet to be approved yet so that's by no means confirmed. Just because the Tories don't like it, it doesn't mean they'll turn their attention to it. All their election talk of the defecit, spending cuts, nhs and military stuff will keep them far busier.

 

[Fincra5]

I'd have to say i would quite like either VT or Govia. But deffinately not First

 

[route:oxford]

Are National Express forbidden from re-bidding?

 

[mumrar]

Are National Express forbidden from re-bidding?

Hahaha, that would be funny, but I'm pretty sure you can't default due to money, then enter a lower bid to win the franchise. That would be no different to the DfT allowing them to reduce the payments without losing the franchise. It would be fun to see, because I'd love to see the spin NatEx would put out to the media to justify it.

 

[Crossforth]

I think it would be good to see Virgin operating over here.

They have improved WCML services so maybe they can do the same for the ECML

 

[2030720310]

Hahaha, that would be funny, but I'm pretty sure you can't default due to money, then enter a lower bid to win the franchise. That would be no different to the DfT allowing them to reduce the payments without losing the franchise. It would be fun to see, because I'd love to see the spin NatEx would put out to the media to justify it.

But I would presume they would be banned because the DFT has already banned them from re-bidding for Natex East Anglia...

 

[Lampshade]

If not Virgin, I'd like to see First or Govia run it. Arriva have proven themselves incapable of running a sustainable franchise á la XC and I generally don't like Stagecoach.

 

[trainfanatic]

Devon Metro is spot on, VT's service on the WCML is very lucrative (any idea what their last annual profit was?). How about EMT then?

 

[Pumbaa]

And there isn't a hope in hell VT are going to retain the franchise, although I wouldn't imagine that the new ownership puts them back in the game. I can foresee a west for east swap by Virgin.

 

[First class]

People are forgetting the Dutch (NS).

Merseyrail/Northern have done a good job of turning both franchises around in many ways- they were short-listed for the South Central franchise and I am fairly certain they would be applying for this one.

I also wouldn't rule out an Open Access Operator applying like Grand Central...

 

[Pumbaa]

And ASLEF...

 

[eddygrim]

virgin in control of the ECML would be good becuase they might run vogagers up to inverness, dundee, etc.. and put hst's on the WCML on the london-holyheads like they ust to run.

 

[DjU]

virgin in control of the ECML would be good becuase they might run vogagers up to inverness, dundee, etc.. and put hst's on the WCML on the london-holyheads like they ust to run.

Um, the rolling stock wouldn't swap.

 

[atomicdanny]

If not Virgin, I'd like to see First or Govia run it. Arriva have proven themselves incapable of running a sustainable franchise á la XC and I generally don't like Stagecoach.

You do realise that VT is almost half stagecoach don't you?, and any bid for the east coast would probably be the same? (virgin 51%, stagecoach 49%)

 

[MCR247]

What about if Stagecoach bidded for it but it being (51% Stagecoach & 49% Virgin), would that be allowed?

 

[mrcheek]

I would love to see First have a shot at the East Coast.

 

[Aictos]

I would love to see First have a shot at the East Coast.

Woohoo, someone who agrees with my view

Yes I would too like to see them get a shot at it, I would be spending more time in bonny Scotland if they did!!!

 

[Lampshade]

You do realise that VT is almost half stagecoach don't you?, and any bid for the east coast would probably be the same? (virgin 51%, stagecoach 49%)

Yep, but with Virgin we're not in a world of penalty fares, ticket barriers everywhere, profit before passengers, garish liveries and overzealous RPIs... yet

 

[rail-britain]

What about if Stagecoach bidded for it but it being (51% Stagecoach & 49% Virgin), would that be allowed?

Virgin Rail Group is currently 51% Virgin and 49% Stagecoach
Stagecoach basically operate the franchise now as the provide the marketing and support
Basically, this means Stagecoach retain the use of the Virgin brand
Equally, as it currently is on the West Coast, this allows megatrain to sell a small volume of seats on the services

If Virgin became the minority shareholder then they would probably terminate the agreement, as there would be no benefit to them; Stagecoach could then stamp their brand on the service (which they currently not permitted to do)

 

[MCR247]

But I meant would it be allowed if they decided to swap round the stakes for the East Coast, bid under stagecoach, but then rebrand to virgin? I don't think it would, am I right?

 

[bnm]

Yep, but with Virgin we're not in a world of penalty fares, ticket barriers everywhere, profit before passengers, garish liveries and overzealous RPIs... yet

Umm... have you seen the prices Virgin charge for their Anytime fares? And what about their Peak timings; ever encroaching into traditional Off-Peak times.

 

[CarterUSM]

Woohoo, someone who agrees with my view

Yes I would too like to see them get a shot at it, I would be spending more time in bonny Scotland if they did!!!

Not for me thanks, morale has plummeted up here since First took over, especially over the last 2/3 years. How are things at their other franchises? It could perhaps be down to specific man management here, as i never hear TPE staff complaining, indeed we have lost quite some staff to them, even with their lower salary, though the shifts seem great. I'm not fussed on who gets the east coast franchise, as long as it is run to the benifit of the fare paying public at the end of the day.