East Midlands Franchise competition

[KashmireHawker]

Franchise contest properly up and running; Arriva, First/Trenitalia and Stagecoach are the final three - current franchise extended for up to one year (March 2019).

(https://www.gov.uk/government/news/east-midlands-rail-franchise-3-firms-make-the-shortlist)

East Midlands rail franchise: 3 firms make the shortlist

The names of the 3 train operating companies in the running for the next East Midlands franchise competition were announced today (1 March 2017) by the Department for Transport.

After submitting an expression of interest, the following have been successfully shortlisted:

• Arriva Rail East Midlands Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arriva UK Trains Limited
• First Trenitalia East Midlands Rail Limited, a joint venture company wholly owned by First Rail Holdings Limited and Trenitalia UK Limited
• Stagecoach East Midlands Trains Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Stagecoach Transport Holdings Limited

Rail Minister Paul Maynard said:

"A flourishing rail network brings real growth and prosperity to the region it serves. That is why we are making the biggest investment in the national rail network in more than 100 years to deliver the safer, faster and more comfortable journeys that passengers want.

At the same time, Network Rail is working on improvements which by 2019 will enable the next East Midlands franchise to deliver more carriages and faster journeys over the whole route, including almost twice as many seats into London St Pancras in the peak hours.

I am delighted that all these first-class companies have demonstrated their confidence in our vision for the future of the rail industry in Great Britain by bidding for this key franchise."

The new franchise is vital in supporting government ambitions to make the Midlands region an engine for growth by improving connections within and outside the region and supporting the East Midlands industry and leisure economy.

In particular, ministers want to improve the quality, frequency and timings of journeys on the east of the franchise network and to seek to develop new services and connections.

The new franchisee will also be expected to satisfy predicted growth in demand, in particular into London St Pancras, but also for local crowded services like Derby-Crewe.

Though the current franchise, operated by East Midlands Trains Limited, is due to end on 4 March 2018, the Secretary of State has used his powers to extend it further by up to a year.

 

[222001]

The current 'plan' is for November 2018 according to this one - https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/east-midlands-rail-franchise-pre-qualification

 

[Bletchleyite]

First Trenitalia? Crikey, that's a combination to avoid.

I hope a renewal goes to Stagecoach. They appear to have done a good job, as they usually do.

 

[northwichcat]

First Trenitalia? Crikey, that's a combination to avoid.

Short delayed trains covered in graffiti?

 

[Quakkerillo]

First TrenItalia is also not a combination I'm particularly fond of.

 

[Roast Veg]

TrenItalia do a reasonable job on c2c, and GWR handles itself well for the intercity work at least. I wouldn't be too put off by that pairing. The reality is that without the bids being made public I can't say for sure which franchise I would hold out for: who has made agreements with which manufacturers, what timetable changes are they suggesting, et cetera.

 

[Quakkerillo]

TrenItalia do a reasonable job on c2c, and GWR handles itself well for the intercity work at least. I wouldn't be too put off by that pairing. The reality is that without the bids being made public I can't say for sure which franchise I would hold out for: who has made agreements with which manufacturers, what timetable changes are they suggesting, et cetera.

Trenitalia only bought C2C in the past month, so I doubt any real change will have happened there already that gets full Trenitalia credit.

 

[Bletchleyite]

TrenItalia do a reasonable job on c2c

Trenitalia has not been in charge of c2c anywhere near long enough to make any difference to it whatsoever.

What I do see of them is that the commercial and semi-commercial ventures they get involved in (I'm thinking the likes of Thello) are pretty rubbish.

 

[DarloRich]

and yet we are told there is no money to be made from rail franchises.......................

 

[Qwerty133]

I'm not really sure why anyone wants this. Whoever gets it will be faced with the task of finding a significant number of trains that are or upgrading trains to DDA standard in 9 months. As far as I can remember only the 222's currently meet DDA and there are only plans in place for the 158s leaving 17 153s, 15 156s and some HSTs that will be in urgent need of an upgrade or replacement, at a scale that is probably impossible in the time available, as without this the franchise will literally not have enough stock to operate services.

 

[northwichcat]

I'm not really sure why anyone wants this. Whoever gets it will be faced with the task of finding a significant number of trains that are or upgrading trains to DDA standard in 9 months. As far as I can remember only the 222's currently meet DDA and there are only plans in place for the 158s leaving 17 153s, 15 156s and some HSTs that will be in urgent need of an upgrade or replacement, at a scale that is probably impossible in the time available, as without this the franchise will literally not have enough stock to operate services.

Accessibility improvements are the ROSCO's responsibility and provided there's a plan to use the trains after 2019 they can start carrying out the upgrades before the next franchise starts.

 

[43096]

Accessibility improvements are the ROSCO's responsibility and provided there's a plan to use the trains after 2019 they can start carrying out the upgrades before the next franchise starts.

But it has to be funded by somebody. That can only be from the lessee, so it needs DfT agreement.

 

[Qwerty133]

Accessibility improvements are the ROSCO's responsibility and provided there's a plan to use the trains after 2019 they can start carrying out the upgrades before the next franchise starts.

But there is no guarantee for any long term use of the units much past 2019. The 153s in particular are also probably unsuitable for DDA mods as there is already too little capacity on board on the vast majority of services they are used on, and a wheelchair accesible toilet and minimum legroom requirements would reduce capacity even further.

 

[LowLevel]

I'm not really sure why anyone wants this. Whoever gets it will be faced with the task of finding a significant number of trains that are or upgrading trains to DDA standard in 9 months. As far as I can remember only the 222's currently meet DDA and there are only plans in place for the 158s leaving 17 153s, 15 156s and some HSTs that will be in urgent need of an upgrade or replacement, at a scale that is probably impossible in the time available, as without this the franchise will literally not have enough stock to operate services.

The 156s are booked in to be done after the 158s to the same specification as the Greater Anglia units have been.

No decision on class 153 or HST yet.

 

[hwl]

The 156s are booked in to be done after the 158s to the same specification as the Greater Anglia units have been.

No decision on class 153 or HST yet.

There is always the option of the HST programme that First GWR /Abellio Scotrail and Arriva XC are going for.

Corby Electrification and thus released 222s might allow the number of HST sets to be reduced. Ditto if Leicester if done by 2020.

Some space stock from Anglia available pre 2020 to cover the 153 issue (e.g. replace)?:
8x 156 which could be added on to the existing mod programme and
4x 2car 170s and 8x 3car 170s which shouldn't need too much.

 

[Qwerty133]

There is always the option of the HST programme that First GWR /Abellio Scotrail and Arriva XC are going for.

Corby Electrification and thus released 222s might allow the number of HST sets to be reduced. Ditto if Leicester if done by 2020.

Some space stock from Anglia available pre 2020 to cover the 153 issue (e.g. replace)?:
8x 156 which could be added on to the existing mod programme and
4x 2car 170s and 8x 3car 170s which shouldn't need too much.

Electrification to Corby may free up the four 4 car 222s, which could reduce the number of HSTs needed by 2. Even if electrification reaches Leicester in time (which is unlikely) it won't reduce the number of diesel/bi-mode units needed as no services terminate there.
Aren't Northern and LM already interested in obtaining the 170s? If so they will have the advantage of already having guaranteed franchises, and while the 8 156s would be a help they wouldn't be anywhere near enough units to replace 17 (soon to be 18) 153s.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Would rather like to see Stagecoach hold onto this. We'll see I guess.

 

[HH]

Would rather like to see Stagecoach hold onto this. We'll see I guess.

Any particular reason? Did they do a better job than MML?

 

[sk688]

First Trenitalia? Crikey, that's a combination to avoid.

I hope a renewal goes to Stagecoach. They appear to have done a good job, as they usually do.

Agreed. In Italy, trenitalia seem to have a remarkable ability to have mind blowing amounts of graffiti on the trains. First not much better, FCC sucked for train appearances

Stagecoach TOCs Seem to be better at train maintenance, and ensuring the trains are turned out well

 

[northwichcat]

Agreed. In Italy, trenitalia seem to have a remarkable ability to have mind blowing amounts of graffiti on the trains. First not much better, FCC sucked for train appearances

Stagecoach TOCs Seem to be better at train maintenance, and ensuring the trains are turned out well

Of course if there's no graffiti on the trains in the first place the TOC don't have to do anything to keep the trains graffiti free. Trains in big European cities like London, Paris, Rome etc. seem to be subject to attack more.

 

[The Ham]

Of course if there's no graffiti on the trains in the first place the TOC don't have to do anything to keep the trains graffiti free. Trains in big European cities like London, Paris, Rome etc. seem to be subject to attack more.

Stagecoach run SWT who very rarely have graffiti on any of their rolling stock.

 

[sk688]

Of course if there's no graffiti on the trains in the first place the TOC don't have to do anything to keep the trains graffiti free. Trains in big European cities like London, Paris, Rome etc. seem to be subject to attack more.

True, but with trenitalia all their services seem to be graffitied, Not Just in big cities and as someone else has said, there is little to none on SWT trains

 

[Blindtraveler]

To answer
HH
I just think SC do well and generally score with customer service, clean trains and a smooth opperation

 

[Robertj21a]

Any particular reason? Did they do a better job than MML?

My view would be that Stagecoach have done a good job with EMT, are known to have done a good job with SWT and are also respected as, probably, the most professional bus operator. I certainly don't want to see First/Trenitalia win this franchise.

 

[HH]

People appear to have short memories. EMT had a driver shortage earlier in the franchise. Of course so did SWT, although that's many years ago now. The SWT timetable is full of padding; the train crew are inefficient (based on comparisons of productive time as a % of diagrammed); revenue protection is haphazard and there's been no attempt to introduce smart ticketing. Plus HQ is overstaffed.

Also, as someone who has seen the way they work, they have no processes in place for anything. It's all seat of the pants and very dependent on individuals. Luckily for them, in a franchise with little change or competition, there's not been much to challenge them.

I wouldn't put money on them retaining either.

 

[Robertj21a]

People appear to have short memories. EMT had a driver shortage earlier in the franchise. Of course so did SWT, although that's many years ago now. The SWT timetable is full of padding; the train crew are inefficient (based on comparisons of productive time as a % of diagrammed); revenue protection is haphazard and there's been no attempt to introduce smart ticketing. Plus HQ is overstaffed.

Also, as someone who has seen the way they work, they have no processes in place for anything. It's all seat of the pants and very dependent on individuals. Luckily for them, in a franchise with little change or competition, there's not been much to challenge them.

I wouldn't put money on them retaining either.

I think you will find that a good chunk of that is simply your own personal *opinion*.

 

[class26]

I think you will find that a good chunk of that is simply your own personal *opinion*.

Well, living on an East Mids line I can say from personal experience the service is radically better now than when Central Trains were running the show

 

[ivanhoe]

Well, living on an East Mids line I can say from personal experience the service is radically better now than when Central Trains were running the show

I also live in the East Midlands and Central Trains /MML did all the ground work for EMT and they have improved things but it is a different franchise than what it was many years ago.

 

[HH]

I think you will find that a good chunk of that is simply your own personal *opinion*.

My *informed* opinion. As opposed to other's uninformed opinions.

 

[LowLevel]

Whereas my informed opinion regarding EMT is somewhat different - they have, after some disagreement and arguing, finally killed off the BBQ Sunday issue that goes back a very long time and got Sundays in the working week for drivers and they're getting to a majority of guards strongly committed to Sundays as well (ie it's a brave person that goes AWOL) - all train managers and any senior conductors recruited in the last 8 or 9 years or so. They've used innovative solutions to provide rolling stock for events where they can (HSTs to Skegness, for engineering work or sport events, with in house crews that have a wide route knowledge, 15X to provide sporting specials, 222s working local trains to free up ageing 15X for maintenance) and they seem to do the PR thing fairly well - turning up and handing out inexpensive treats to passengers on random days goes down a storm. They've got a 24/7 in house Twitter team providing passengers with a direct link to EMT control all night. Extra trains to Newark and soon to be Lincoln and Grantham on a Sunday have been achieved ahead of schedule.

Lincolnshire is a weak link and the Crewe line has suppressed demand as well. Liverpool - Norwich is a burning question but apart from the loss of 170s it's unrecognisable from how Central Trains left it.

Central nearly wrecked the apple cart entirely for several franchises by misreporting passenger figures causing trains to be allocated to effectively the wrong operators at franchise split and then having to have more stock transfers to correct it.
I think all round for a low investment franchise they've done pretty well.