Greater Anglia to Abellio - confirmed

[A60K]

As per the strong rumours, Abellio will take over from NXEA in February for 29 months - with a 15 year contract to be awarded after that.
Oyster PAYG to be extended to Shenfield and Hertford East, and the TOC to take over the station leases from Network Rail.
DfT press release: http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/stories/dft-news-20111020

 

[Schnellzug]

I don't really have any strong opinions on the matter, EA being a long way from me, but can I be the first to say jolly good luck with it, chaps.

 

[trentside]

Given the alternatives, Abellio were clearly the best choice in my opinion.

I'm not sure how much they can realistically achieve with a 2.5 year franchise though?

 

[Masbroughlad]

As per the strong rumours, Abellio will take over from NXEA in February for 29 months - with a 15 year contract to be awarded after that.
Oyster PAYG to be extended to Shenfield and Hertford East, and the TOC to take over the station leases from Network Rail.
DfT press release: http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/stories/dft-news-20111020

Cann we see their plans anywhere? Wonder what look they will adopt? Is it a lone bid or with Serco?

 

[dk1]

Cann we see their plans anywhere? Wonder what look they will adopt? Is it a lone bid or with Serco?

I think just logo will do. No point wasting money on livery when on such a large fleet you wont have a hope in hell of completing the job.

 

[TheWalrus]

Are abellio the guys who do northern rail? If not what do they do?

 

[Schnellzug]

Well, NX shouldn't be too difficult to repaint, as it's basically white already isn't it. I'd recommend going back to their roots, with yellow.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Are abellio the guys who do northern rail? If not what do they do?

They're the international arm of Nederlandse Spoorwegen. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abellio_(transport_company)

 

[jopsuk]

I wonder how the Oyster extensions will be handled- whether it'll be Zones 7-9, or special purpose Zones H (for Hertford) and S (for Shenfield) (or similar). I'd hope the former, especially if Oyster is going to Hertford on the FCC route as well.

 

[Zoe]

I wonder how the Oyster extensions will be handled- whether it'll be Zones 7-9

I doubt it as the TOC fares will most likely still apply and not TfL zonal fares, the TOC are also not likely to agree to change the travelcard agreement to allow unlimited travel outside of the current zones as they would lose revenue unless of course they were required to do so as parf of the franchise but I haven't seen any evidence of this.

 

[jopsuk]

Well there's no details as yet, and most travelcards at the moment are no more than Z1-6. The devil will be in the small print. It would be passenger-friendly for it to be Z7-9, but we all know that what's investor-friendly is the over riding principal.

 

[Zoe]

Well there's no details as yet, and most travelcards at the moment are no more than Z1-6. The devil will be in the small print. It would be passenger-friendly for it to be Z7-9, but we all know that what's investor-friendly is the over riding principal.

I didn't see anything in the invitation to tender suggesting that there would be a requirement to extend the travelcard agreement beyond zone 6. The issue with extending the zones is that the new zones would have to be agreed by all the relevant TOCs and I can't see the TOCs agreeing to anything that is going to reduce their revenue unless as I say they were required to do so. In the case of Watford Junction, it's still excluded from the zones even though Watford High Street is in zone 8.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Hopefully, their web site will make matters clearer some time later today, as their brief message currently published states. They have existing rail presence with their involvement with both Northern Rail and Merseyrail.

As a brief aside, Abellio was a god of apple trees in the south-western area of Gaul, known to the Roman Empire as Gallia Aquitania

 

[gordonthemoron]

perhaps they could enhance rail/sail between the UK & Netherlands?

 

[Masbroughlad]

Gallia Aquitania[/I]

Should be ok with trunk routes and branch lines then.

 

[Aictos]

Oyster PAYG to be extended to Shenfield and Hertford East, and the TOC to take over the station leases from Network Rail.
DfT press release: http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/stories/dft-news-20111020

These are the two points of the announcement I like, good to see Oyster coming to Hertford and it's about time the TOCs took more responsibility for their stations.

 

[sprinterguy]

The Serco/Abellio consortium have proven that they are a safe pair of hands when it comes to maintaining the status quo and not rocking the boat in a franchise. It seems that they are therefore adeptly suited to running the East Anglia "caretaker" franchise where I wouldn't expect anything much to change.

 

[ginger]

Given the very short nature of this contract I doubt anything will be done about the rolling stock! The interiors of the ex LM 321/4 will get new seat covers but it appears that the "nettle" of bringing the interiors of these late 80s second generation trains into the 21st centuary has not been grasped again!

So GA appears to remain the only line into London with seats fit only for pygmies and interiors that are falling to bits!

Well done Daft!!!!

 

[stut]

So GA appears to remain the only line into London with seats fit only for pygmies and interiors that are falling to bits!

Sadly not, we have them on FCC as well

 

[ginger]

Agree, but at least you have 365s in the main.....we have 96 units on the GE mainline forming the bulk of all commuter services......

 

[185]

RIP National Express Rail Division.





hahahaha

 

[Eagle]

RIP National Express Rail Division.

c2c?




(Five-character limit be damned.)

 

[507 001]

is the 29 month thing not just a probationary period? You surely can't expect the DFT to give out a 15 year franchise if they haven't proved themselves first?

Therefore I would expect quite a bit to change and improve.

 

[eastdyke]

Have read a few of the news stories, not seen any mention of Serco.

Spotted this:

'..complimentary refreshments service for first class passengers on the London to Norwich and Stansted Express services'

and that a print at home ticketing service will be offered

How does the latter square with busy gatelines?

 

[shinkansen1966]

In the DfT press release, on the East Anglia franchise, we can look forward to:

• improvements to ticket vending machines, and
• introducing mobile phone and print-at-home ticketing facilities.

What improvements to TVMs can we expect ? Ability to sell advance tickets or tickets between any two points in the country ?

What kind of mobile phone ticket system can we expect ? The rubbish one like they have on Chiltern Railways? (see my moan on Masabi m-tickets elsewhere)

 

[swt_passenger]

is the 29 month thing not just a probationary period?

No. There is another full franchise competition in 29 months, it has already been announced...

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

How does the latter square with busy gatelines?

They fit bar code readers, as well as magstripe and Oyster readers. Chiltern or someone has already trialled it IIRC...

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

What improvements to TVMs can we expect ? Ability to sell advance tickets or tickets between any two points in the country ?

Not at all likely as in this country it would be too susceptible to fraud.

 

[The Sleeper]

Well they've been very good at promoting Northern Branch lines and CRP's by actually putting money where there mouth was. Although the announcement of the winning bidder has been made the formal announcement is not due until 01 November (something to do with procurement legislation).
Norwich will get the first ever cycle hire outlet in the City (amazing that there has never been one in such a large university city). One important thing to remember is that it will be all the same staff and management as at present due to TUPE. However, a change it the MD is not ruled out. Although only for 29 months I expect Abellio may treat this short term as a 'loss leader' to demonstrate to the DfT that they can and are willing to go that extra Kilometre(They're Dutch) in order to stand a chance for the 15 year franchise after

 

[ChrisTheRef]

I'm hoping it'll mean mutual free travel between Northern/Merseyrail/Greater Anglia!

 

[shinkansen1966]

Not at all likely as in this country it would be too susceptible to fraud.

Interesting. Why would TVMs selling tickets between any two points or advance tickets be susceptible to fraud in this country ? They do in Germany.

 

[swt_passenger]

Interesting. Why would TVMs selling tickets between any two points or advance tickets be susceptible to fraud in this country ? They do in Germany.

Because it (the between any two points aspect anyway) is already a widely known method of fraud here. Making it easier isn't in the TOC's interests.

 

[shinkansen1966]

Because it (the between any two points aspect anyway) is already a widely known method of fraud here. Making it easier isn't in the TOC's interests.

Bit confused....

I go to a ticket machine at (say) Finsbury Park (my local station). I buy a ticket from (say) London Bridge to (say) Hildenborough. How can that be open to fraud ?

Making it easier isn't in the TOC's interests.

Why is not in TOCs interests ? And what have their 'interests' go to do with it ? A TVM selling tickets between any two points plus advance tickets is beneficial to the travelling public.

Still confused ...