Arriva Trains Wales - it’s the final countdown

[Cardiff123]

It seems to be very appropriate for ATW to shout 'Do Not Travel' as their franchise finally comes to an end. Some people must have htought that this has been their message to passengers all along!

There's an article on the BBC website quoting experts defending Arriva today, basically saying that they've done exactly as they were told for 15 years, fulfilling all of their contract obligations and the fault of ATW's franchise is with the Westminster government who awarded the franchise in 2003. Which of course is true.
Hopefully 'no growth' franchises are a thing of the past, but what on earth was the UK govt thinking in 2003, awarding a standstill franchise, locked in for 15 years?

If a standstill franchise had to be awarded due to the crisis in Network Rail taking over from Railtrack at the time etc, it should've been a 5 year short franchise max. Or a 10 year franchise absolute maximum with a 5 year halfway break clause. Because as we know, by 2008 it was more than obvious that the franchise was already failing.

It would've been known in 2003 that Pacers weren't built to last another 15 years. It was known that letting a standstill franchise that close to the PRM 2020 deadline would cause major problems, as we are now seeing.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45838051

Tony Miles, from Modern Railways magazine, said Arriva was left hamstrung for some of the problems.

"The contract for Arriva Trains Wales was let by the Westminster Labour government in 2003," he said.

"When it was let at that point, it was assumed - as it was across the rest of the UK - that there wouldn't be much growth on the railways.

"People need to bear in mind when complaining about not enough seats that if you want to get more trains you have to get permission from the government to order them and permission to then use them.

"It's not Arriva's fault. They are only allowed to do what they're allowed to do."

He said the new franchise would be different as control solely rests with the Welsh Government.

Stuart Cole, professor of transport at the University of South Wales, said he was surprised Arriva managed to keep the network running with some trains that were 40 years old.

"Arriva was required to run the railway as it was," he said.

"They took over a franchise that wasn't fit for purpose. It was an old and tired railway they ran to their credit."

He added: "The reason why £5bn is going to be spent over the next 15 years is because it wasn't spent over the last 15 years.

"It's a catch-up on what we should've had a long time ago."

Arriva Trains Wales managing director Tom Joyner said more than £100m had been invested over the last 15 years.

He added: "We can rightly feel proud to be handing over the franchise in a far better condition that the one we inherited in 2003."

 

[uxm]

It's the final Day!!

 

[uxm]

There's an article on the BBC website quoting experts defending Arriva today, basically saying that they've done exactly as they were told for 15 years, fulfilling all of their contract obligations and the fault of ATW's franchise is with the Westminster government who awarded the franchise in 2003. Which of course is true.
Hopefully 'no growth' franchises are a thing of the past, but what on earth was the UK govt thinking in 2003, awarding a standstill franchise, locked in for 15 years?

If a standstill franchise had to be awarded due to the crisis in Network Rail taking over from Railtrack at the time etc, it should've been a 5 year short franchise max. Or a 10 year franchise absolute maximum with a 5 year halfway break clause. Because as we know, by 2008 it was more than obvious that the franchise was already failing.

It would've been known in 2003 that Pacers weren't built to last another 15 years. It was known that letting a standstill franchise that close to the PRM 2020 deadline would cause major problems, as we are now seeing.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45838051

The Labour government created the 0 growth franchises it's horrible and now that they've lost votes they are focusing on renationalisation.

 

[Dai Corner]

It's the final Day!!

And ATW are going to go out like a damp squib rather than with a Flourish

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Not been a good week , and to complete the woes - a 143 was derailed in Treherbet Sidings last night ....

 

[PHILIPE]

The Labour government created the 0 growth franchises it's horrible and now that they've lost votes they are focusing on renationalisation.

And there is no flexibility in franchises to meet changing circumstances such as 75% increase in passenger numbers

 

[PHILIPE]

Using initiative on last day by hiring 150215 + 150222 from NT and which are working as a pair on Llandudno to Manchester route. They would have possibly been twiddling their thumbs at Chester otherwise due to cancellation of Mid-Cheshire services as a result of Northern strike.

 

[CardiffKid]

And ATW are going to go out like a damp squib rather than with a Flourish

Not the best time to start a new franchise either!

 

[Parallel]

I saw a ATW WiFi poster earlier, they hadn’t covered up “Arriva Trains Wales” in the title, but they had taped over the name in the tiny-sized block text!

But yes, ATW definitely went out with a bang! And TfW will likely start with half their trains out of service...

 

[Cardiff123]

I saw a ATW WiFi poster earlier, they hadn’t covered up “Arriva Trains Wales” in the title, but they had taped over the name in the tiny-sized block text!

But yes, ATW definitely went out with a bang! And TfW will likely start with half their trains out of service...

We'll still be logging on to "Arriva Trains Wales WiFi" on our mobile devices unless they can somehow remotely change the name to "TfW Rail WiFi" on mass.
The on-board WiFi is the only thing that hasn't been de-branded.

 

[uxm]

There's a party going on at cardiff central as we speak to celebrate the end of arriva.

 

[Darandio]

There's a party going on at cardiff central as we speak to celebrate the end of arriva.

Yet it will carry on exactly as before....

 

[uxm]

Yet it will carry on exactly as before....

No there literally is : https://www.facebook.com/events/2224090751200782/?active_tab=discussion

 

[Dai Corner]

No there literally is : https://www.facebook.com/events/2224090751200782/?active_tab=discussion

Has anybody actually turned up though?
Some guy posted his phone number asking where everyone was about 2150.

 

[Darandio]

No there literally is : https://www.facebook.com/events/2224090751200782/?active_tab=discussion

Not the point I was making. These people think it will all be different for their commute on Monday morning after Arriva have gone. It won't.

 

[allanf]

Not the point I was making. These people think it will all be different for their commute on Monday morning after Arriva have gone. It won't.

It is incredibly arrogant of you to think that people in this part of the world are too stupid to realise that things will not change overnight.
The negativity by so many on here, particularly those whom have obviously worked for Arriva and been complicit in delivering an awful service to the people of the valleys, is disgusting.
Some positive thinking and goodwill wouldn't go amiss.

 

[Darandio]

It is incredibly arrogant of you to think that people in this part of the world are too stupid to realise that things will not change overnight.
The negativity by so many on here, particularly those whom have obviously worked for Arriva and been complicit in delivering an awful service to the people of the valleys, is disgusting.
Some positive thinking and goodwill wouldn't go amiss.

Stop being silly. People think the same in all different parts of the country when a franchise changes.

 

[CardiffKid]

There's a party going on at cardiff central as we speak to celebrate the end of arriva.

Pretty **** party...

 

[Parallel]

Pretty **** party...

Probably can’t get there as all of their trains are cancelled

In all seriousness, over than short forms at peak times, the valleys tend to run quite well operationally. It’s very rare I’ve had a train cancelled or heavily delayed. There again I don’t commute on a daily basis there.

I’d imagine it’s the commuters from Lisvane, Llanishen and Heath that are most frustrated as they usually get missed out if a train has reduced capacity.

 

[Cardiff123]

Deleted

 

[KashmireHawker]

The final services have departed Barry Island and Telford Central, meaning the end is very nearly nigh!

 

[rich.davies]

Thank you Arriva Trains Wales. You had a tough job, but did it well. Diolch

 

[LewisT]

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V63755/2018/10/14/advanced
This is apparently the last ATW service, interestingly it's delayed to beyond 2am, so who knows which operator's in charge then!

 

[sw1ller]

Thank you Arriva Trains Wales. You had a tough job, but did it well. Diolch

Here here.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

ATW has disappeared from NRE, replaced by Transport for Wales.
I had a lot of time for ATW, particularly the staff. Thank you all.
They were a whole lot better then their predecessors up here (North Western Trains/First North Western).
I wonder how long it will take to get rid of all the Arriva green paint on the new station buildings at Chester and Llandudno?