GEML franchise 2016

[Class 170101]

Lots of speculation everywhere, so here's the bet, predict:

Next Prime Minister
Next Labour Party leader
Next England Manager
Next East Anglia franchise holder

You would get good odds on getting all four correct, but which one is most important (nearly typed impotent)

In which order of selection though?

 

[dk1]

Looks like the latest rumour was also wrong :roll:

No press release from ORR today.

 

[Sleepy]

:roll: Still waiting - is 2nd choice being awkward/ greedy ? #Notuntillastmin.

 

[Rick1984]

Would a dynamic loop between Acle and Lingwood allow half-hourly services to Great Yarmouth?
I know at least some of the bridges are two tracks wide, though I've never been able to find out if the line used to be two tracks from Acle.

 

[TheEdge]

Would a dynamic loop between Acle and Lingwood allow half-hourly services to Great Yarmouth?
I know at least some of the bridges are two tracks wide, though I've never been able to find out if the line used to be two tracks from Acle.

Its already do-able and is near enough done in the morning and evening "peak" if you could call it that just using the passing loop at Acle and the double track between Brundall and Norwich. Eternal problem is having the stock to do it.

 

[dk1]

Would a dynamic loop between Acle and Lingwood allow half-hourly services to Great Yarmouth?
I know at least some of the bridges are two tracks wide, though I've never been able to find out if the line used to be two tracks from Acle.

Never was double tracked, only built for it. Its been said that a half-hourly service would perfectly fit a loop just short of Lingwood although this would be an expensive option just to get a pretty timetable. Acle/Lingwood don't warrant such a frequency either. It is possible to operate two or more trains an hour now, albeit using the Berney Arms route.

 

[43074]

Would a dynamic loop between Acle and Lingwood allow half-hourly services to Great Yarmouth?
I know at least some of the bridges are two tracks wide, though I've never been able to find out if the line used to be two tracks from Acle.

You could do a half hourly service to Great Yarmouth using the passing loop already at Acle, or by alternating between via Reedham and via Acle, the issue is more the lack of trains to run any extra services with and where the funding would come from to pay for them.

EDIT - beaten to it by dk1 and TheEdge!

 

[dk1]

In a perfect world you would make it one-way & use Acle for down trains & Reedham for up. This would probably upset the locals however. Remember also that there where also boxes at one time at Berney Arms, Stracey Arms, Lingwood, Buckenham & Postwick assisting with breaking up the sections on busy days & with the often slow freight services that once existed.

 

[Rick1984]

Interesting. Agree intermediate stations don't warrant a half hour service particularly but GY definitely does. Being stuck in GY station for an hour if you miss your train or it's canceled is no fun!

 

[Sleepy]

..... and the wait goes on - will it go to the wire (Friday next week) or will it be Another Extension !! :roll:

 

[Class 170101]

Most of the population of this route use the bus. The bus runs to the city centre, its perceived as better quality than the train including wifi and I believe it may be cheaper too.

 

[dk1]

Most of the population of this route use the bus. The bus runs to the city centre, its perceived as better quality than the train including wifi and I believe it may be cheaper too.

To an extent this is very true. That's why at least a half hourly frequency is required in my opinion. Trains are very busy at times but numbers a made up of those travelling further distances on Intercity & East Mids services. There are quite healthy numbers who use trains Thursday Friday & Saturday evenings going to Riverside & also Sunday services oddly can be well used all day. Monday/Friday reliefs (similar to Saturday's) start for 'The Sun' holiday brigade towards the end of this month.

 

[TheEdge]

..... and the wait goes on - will it go to the wire (Friday next week) or will it be Another Extension !! :roll:

Extension. Because just what Anglia needs is even longer with the rail franchise living in limbo...

 

[samuelmorris]

I hope to be proven wrong, but I am honestly anticipating an additional extension to the current franchise of similar tune to the existing one due to 'economic uncertainties about leaving the EU' and the likes - no investment, just status quo for another 2 years or so. All the economic predictions the existing bids will be based on are out the window and with the greatly reduced time the DfT have to evaluate how well the bidders have addressed these concerns, I can't see it happening.

 

[Alfie1014]

I thought procurment rules prevented a 'third' extension, but as we're in interesting times who knows!

 

[northwichcat]

The DfT franchise timetable shows an extension for up to 7 x 4 week reporting periods is possible: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...e/523791/may-2016-rail-franchise-schedule.pdf

 

[3141]

Extension. Because just what Anglia needs is even longer with the rail franchise living in limbo...

As the East Anglia region voted strongly for Brexit, there's a certain poetic justice there.

 

[dsc17]

Heard that an announcement will be made at end of July

 

[jamesontheroad]

As the East Anglia region voted strongly for Brexit, there's a certain poetic justice there.

All of East Anglia, but for Norwich and Cambridge. Plans are afoot for passport and immigration checks at Thorpe station after Norwich declares independence

 

[TheEdge]

Heard that an announcement will be made at end of July

Just like the one at the start of July, end of June, start of June, April, 2014, 2012 and so on...

 

[cjmillsnun]

Just to add a light note whilst we're waiting...

The new stock for the GEML has been announced. Zero carbon emissions!

 

[Alfie1014]

The DfT franchise timetable shows an extension for up to 7 x 4 week reporting periods is possible: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...e/523791/may-2016-rail-franchise-schedule.pdf

My bad, lets hope that any delay is a matter of weeks not the full 7 periods which would take us up until next April.

 

[HH]

My bad, lets hope that any delay is a matter of weeks not the full 7 periods which would take us up until next April.

They can only call it once, so who knows how long a period they specified. However, if you were an arse-covering civil servant 7 periods seems more likely than 1 or 2...

 

[Sleepy]

No surprise there then ..............http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politic...ed_by_wrong_kind_of_brexit_decision_1_4610853

 

[scott118]

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politic...ed_by_wrong_kind_of_brexit_decision_1_4610853

Last month’s decision to leave the EU has put the brakes on plans to speed up and improve the region’s rail service – and has prompted current operator Abellio to reconsider its bid for the long-term contract according to a national newspaper.

 

[MrPIC]

Lifted from that article:

A spokeswoman for the DfT described the Sunday Times story as “pure speculation” and said an announcement on the franchise would be made “in due course.” She could not give any indication of a timescale for the decision.

 

[HH]

Well that's OK then. The DfT have it all in hand...

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

If the DfT was on the point of announcing the East Anglia winner, it will now have gone back into the cupboard until a new Transport Secretary is appointed (or Patrick McLoughlin confirmed in post).

I can't find any views of Theresa May on railways, or HS2 (Andrea Leadsom was actively opposed to HS2).

 

[JamesRowden]

Just to add a light note whilst we're waiting...

The new stock for the GEML has been announced. Zero carbon emissions!

Humans produce carbon dioxide

 

[HH]

Latest rumour is that Abellio were preferred bidder, with FirstGroup second. However, following Brexit there is a deal of uncertainty, not least about the price of rolling stock from Alstom. No bidder is going to confirm their bid in these circumstances, given that the risks all lie with them.

DfT are now stuck between the rock of July 21 parliamentary recess and the hard place of a 15 October franchise end date. The smart money has to be on some sort of Direct Award to Abellio, while DfT sort the mess out. I'm not hearing any rumours that DoR has been put on standby.