What should be done with the Avanti franchise?

[Class15]

Just mentioned on BBC R4, in passing at the end of the business news.
No details, and nothing on other media yet that I can see.

Just terminate the contract and end Avanti!!!

 

[The Planner]

Just terminate the contract and end Avanti!!!

And replace it with what? 95% or more of the staff would still be the same.

 

[Haywain]

It's been extended for 6 months.

 

[Vespa]

It would eventually revert to Operator Of Last Resort (OLR), which is effectively nationalisation.

 

[Snow1964]

It's been extended for 6 months.

Strictly it is 6.5 months from 1st April to 15th October

But the Prior Information Notice makes it clear this second interim contract could be extended upto a maximum of 10 years to October 2032, and wording suggests already intention to have successor award

It is currently envisaged that following the expiry of the second interim award, a new successor direct award will be entered into with the Operator for a duration expiring no later than 17 October 2032. The duration of the successor direct award may be made up of a core term and one or more optional periods with the option(s) exercisable by the Secretary of State.

Prior information notice (PIN) for direct award of West Coast Partnership contract (rectification)

www.gov.uk

 

[The Planner]

It would eventually revert to Operator Of Last Resort (OLR), which is effectively nationalisation.

Only if there are enough people for OLR to run it, there currently isn't as I understand it.

 

[irish_rail]

Slightly (or very) tongue in cheek, but id like to see it merged with GWR into a super West of Britain franchise, with better connections from South west to North west and Scotland, plus uniform livery etc. Fewer TOCs overall would be a good thing, perhaps merge LNER with the Peterborough Brighton line whatever that's called these days.

 

[Mike Machin]

Sell it off lock, stock and barrel and bring in open access operators - like Lumo and Grand Central. It's time the DFT backed out of controlling Inter-City train travel, let the markets decide.

 

[Haywain]

bring in open access operators - like Lumo and Grand Central.

Yes, because they're doing so well with reliability of their services and looking after their customers when things go wrong. Or not.

 

[The Planner]

Sell it off lock, stock and barrel and bring in open access operators - like Lumo and Grand Central. It's time the DFT backed out of controlling Inter-City train travel, let the markets decide.

Say good bye to the level of service then, no one would be interested in the paths that make no or relatively little money.

 

[dk1]

Just leave it alone for the few months to get on with its recovery & make a decision then.

 

[irish_rail]

Sell it off lock, stock and barrel and bring in open access operators - like Lumo and Grand Central. It's time the DFT backed out of controlling Inter-City train travel, let the markets decide.

Intercity travel is relatively booming. Why sell it off? How will that help anyone except profiteers?