Austrian Open Access Operator Westbahn have been awarded a contract by the Austrian government to run for an initial three month period. There is to be broadly a two-hourly service overlaid with the Federal Railway services (OBB). Westbahn must call at additional stations specified, and accept OBB tickets.
There was a great deal of clamour on these boards about the lack of cash bailout for Grand Central and Hull Trains in the UK, which led to both operators temporarily withdrawing all services last month. Since closure, Grand Central have promised to return, though they initially committed to continuing to operate through the crisis but found this was unsustainable.
This may present an alternative idea 'rescue' (or possibly recovery depending on how it goes) of these firms in very difficult trading conditions to come once the strictest measures of "lockdown" are lifted.
Things I would be keen to remember here:
- Taxpayers are already funding massive losses at DfT operators
- Any extra services running should be shown to fulfil a particular need
- Taxpayers cash going to private companies should see something in return - Open Access Operators don't pay any premium in the good times as government contractors do
- Other, arguably more essential public transport services such as London Underground, the Tyne & Wear Metro, Merseyrail and various tramways remain generally unsupported by centeal government
ALLRail are a trade organisation who represent European Open Access railway operators: http://allrail.eu/members/
There could be other, more practical ways to have the Department support GC and HT too, such as by directing Northern or LNER to hire the stock and crews for some of their own services. lt is unlikely one way or another that these political ideas are popular in government, though. It seems more likely that First and Arriva will be left to float their operations themselves - or see them sink permanently.
There was a great deal of clamour on these boards about the lack of cash bailout for Grand Central and Hull Trains in the UK, which led to both operators temporarily withdrawing all services last month. Since closure, Grand Central have promised to return, though they initially committed to continuing to operate through the crisis but found this was unsustainable.
This may present an alternative idea 'rescue' (or possibly recovery depending on how it goes) of these firms in very difficult trading conditions to come once the strictest measures of "lockdown" are lifted.
Things I would be keen to remember here:
- Taxpayers are already funding massive losses at DfT operators
- Any extra services running should be shown to fulfil a particular need
- Taxpayers cash going to private companies should see something in return - Open Access Operators don't pay any premium in the good times as government contractors do
- Other, arguably more essential public transport services such as London Underground, the Tyne & Wear Metro, Merseyrail and various tramways remain generally unsupported by centeal government
ALLRail are a trade organisation who represent European Open Access railway operators: http://allrail.eu/members/
There could be other, more practical ways to have the Department support GC and HT too, such as by directing Northern or LNER to hire the stock and crews for some of their own services. lt is unlikely one way or another that these political ideas are popular in government, though. It seems more likely that First and Arriva will be left to float their operations themselves - or see them sink permanently.
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