GEML franchise 2016

[captainbigun]

They weren't re-geared, so that's not an issue.

 

[asylumxl]

The 350/4s would only be useful if Siemens made them compatible with the 360s AGA already has, and they may need to be re-geared back to 100mph. That'd be too costly for NX :P

They weren't regeared in the first place as far as I know. I was under the impression they had a speed restrictor which prevented them exceeding 100mph, but having copious amounts of power meant they were capable of higher speeds. I'm welcome to bring corrected though.

 

[captainbigun]

Mods were motors, pan and software.

 

[MrPIC]

In my opinion 321's on the WA would be terrible, unless they all had AC motors. 321's in their current form would be dire on Hertford and BIS-SRA services, stopping and starting every 2-3 mins. I've done a few Hertford all stops services in a 379 before and it was mega hard work waiting for the computers to think through everything on door realease, door close, pulling away etc. I don't know how the LOROL boys cope with their electrostars! They should give us re-tractioned 321's for CBG services, and LOROL's old 315's for Hertford and Stratfords, until Corssrail 2 brings new stock.

 

[swt_passenger]

They weren't regeared in the first place as far as I know. I was under the impression they had a speed restrictor which prevented them exceeding 100mph, but having copious amounts of power meant they were capable of higher speeds. I'm welcome to bring corrected though.

The motor modification (that the previous poster mentions) was that the rotor (the moving bit in the middle) had to be modified to deal with additional rotational forces at 110 mph. I expect that the modified motor will still look physically the same as an unmodified motor.

According to the project 110 track access application, that and the high speed pan were the only hardware changes.

 

[asylumxl]

The motor modification (that the previous poster mentions) was that the rotor (the moving bit in the middle) had to be modified to deal with additional rotational forces at 110 mph. I expect that the modified motor will still look physically the same as an unmodified motor.

According to the project 110 track access application, that and the high speed pan were the only hardware changes.

As I said, willing to be corrected. But no regearing necessary.

 

[dk1]

The 442s are going to be stored at Ely but that doesn't mean we want them in East Anglian traffic. We need a total fleet renewal on the main line in a similar way to SWTs & LMs WCML operation & why not? There seems to be a plan to refurb/upgrade 40(ish) 321s which should keep the Southend line happy just about.

 

[F Great Eastern]

With regards to rolling stock, all I will say is the front runner is widely in favor of Alstom stock as HH has alluded to, there were different proposals from all of the bidders as far as rolling stock is concerned.

As you can imagine, the proposals vary in spec and quantity,

 

[Pumbaa]

Proving conclusively that you shouldn't trust the rumour mill.

 

[HH]

I don't know if anyone spotted this.

It is often common for speculative comments to be made around the time of when a franchise announcement is due to be made. In the case of Abellio I can confirm that we find ourselves in exactly the same place as the other bidders and that is awaiting on the decision from the DfT.

We have no reason to believe that it is nothing other than business as usual at the DfT.

– SPOKESMAN, ABELLIO

 

[swt_passenger]

I don't know if anyone spotted this.

We have no reason to believe that it is nothing other than business as usual at the DfT.

Unfortunately if the spokesman's double negative above is correctly reported it actually means the opposite... :roll:

 

[F Great Eastern]

I don't know if anyone spotted this.

They are going to say that whether they know anything or not, else the other bidders would complain.

 

[HH]

They are going to say that whether they know anything or not, else the other bidders would complain.

They could say nothing, but I certainly wouldn't rely on it as being the actual situation.

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

Unfortunately if the spokesman's double negative above is correctly reported it actually means the opposite... :roll:

Maybe he was Dutch; or spoke double dutch.

Another story here.

Current operator Abellio, First Group (FGP.L) and National Express (NEX.L) are competing for the franchise, which was originally due to have been awarded by the end of June.

Asked about the award, a Department for Transport spokeswoman said the bids were being assessed and the winning bidder would be announced in due course.

A rail industry source said the implications of Brexit were a focus of talks between the bidders and the government.

A slowdown in the economy exacerbated by the short-term effects of Brexit could hit passenger growth, making it tough to meet profit targets in the early years of the franchise, according to Jefferies analyst Joe Spooner.

"Being bid before the Brexit vote but operated in a potentially softer post-Brexit economy, this may be a franchise bidders are now happy to lose," he said in a note.

The bidding companies declined to comment.

[My bold]

 

[TheEdge]

Another Monday, another 0700, another bout of silence...

 

[scott118]

Another Monday, another 0700, another bout of silence...

perhaps, they, the senior management, are somewhat distracted, by the impending ballot....

 

[northwichcat]

Another Monday, another 0700, another bout of silence...

It doesn't have to be announced on a Monday, the Northern and TPE ones caught people out when they were announced mid-week.

 

[dsc17]

Did Not think it would be announced today as there voting on Trident today

 

[jon0844]

Did Not think it would be announced today as there voting on Trident today

Can 442s not be modified for that?

 

[ainsworth74]

Can 442s not be modified for that?

No.

And that ends the 442 discussion unless something is actually announced regarding them thank you all very much

 

[43096]

Did Not think it would be announced today as there voting on Trident today

More to the point, the ministerial team at DfT has changed so they will need briefing before signing. Also, post Brexit the cost of new trains has risen and the chance of a recession has increased which may well make a material difference for the bidders as to the viability of their bids.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

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.

It's not true that franchise awards are only made when parliament is sitting.
The infamous award of ICWC to First was announced on 15 August 2012, when MPs and the most of the government were on holiday.

DOR won't be mobilised unless there has been a falling out with Abellio over an extension, or DfT pull the competition.
You'd expect at least the first franchise award by the new government would go to cabinet or at least cleared through No 10 first.
The bidders can play hard-ball over Brexit impact over 9 years.

 

[swt_passenger]

... Also, post Brexit the cost of new trains has risen and the chance of a recession has increased which may well make a material difference for the bidders as to the viability of their bids.

Well that is what the last 5 pages of this thread have basically been about.

 

[HH]

It's not true that franchise awards are only made when parliament is sitting.
The infamous award of ICWC to First was announced on 15 August 2012, when MPs and the most of the government were on holiday.

That turned out well.

But they now have a less than three month gap to the supposed start of the new franchise, after promising that new franchises would have 4, because 3 wasn't enough.

I suppose that if Abellio get it, then they won't need as long...

 

[dk1]

Another Monday, another 0700, another bout of silence...

Like me you will have stop listening to the bull*******s in the messroom who make out they have 'inside' information (yawns).

 

[northwichcat]

That turned out well.

Especially considering it was reported a week before by pretty much every news outlet that Virgin had lost the franchise to First, meaning the actual announcement was like DfT announcing one of their old schemes to get media attention.

But they now have a less than three month gap to the supposed start of the new franchise, after promising that new franchises would have 4, because 3 wasn't enough.

I suppose that if Abellio get it, then they won't need as long...

Like I pointed out before the option to extend the existing franchise is there. Northern and TPE were announced late meaning the existing franchises were extended by 2 months.

If First get it and propose new stock it'll be 6 months before you find out exactly what type of stock, based on their record with TPE.

 

[Panupreset]

Abellio will get a 2 year extension until Oct 2018 to enable rebidding post Brexit.

 

[absolutelymilk]

Abellio will get a 2 year extension until Oct 2018 to enable rebidding post Brexit.

Is that a rumour, your opinion or confirmed?

 

[Alfie1014]

There's nothing to substantiate this on any official websites. We'll have to keeo waiting!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

There's nothing to substantiate this on any official websites. We'll have to keeo waiting!

If they did that, it would undermine all the other franchise competitions over the next 2 years (ICWC, South Western, West Midlands, Wales & Borders etc).

 

[Panupreset]

Just my opinion!