TfGM Tranche 3 speculation

[mancbus]

Reports suggest the announcement has been delayed…

Staff at tranche 3 depots have been told.

Attach the reports

Have been told the tranche 3 operators

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What time tomorrow will they be announced?

 

[Leyland Bus]

Chatter from colleagues at other depots suggests Stagecoach for Stockport and ComfortDelGro the rest re:large depots... not confirmed yet mind...

 

[Class 466]

Seen this shared elsewhere- maybe a legal challenge has delayed it?
(Image shows poster advising that Tranche 3 announcement has been delayed)

 

[Leyland Bus]

Seen this shared elsewhere- maybe a legal challenge has delayed it?

If someone has bid better than you (and it's sealed bids so in theory only TfGM know) then surely it's a bit petty to be trying to overturn it after the last 2 went through okay?

 

[Class 466]

If someone has bid better than you (and it's sealed bids so in theory only TfGM know) then surely it's abit petty to be trying to overturn it after the last 2 went through okay?

Am sure it’s happened in Rail Franchising when Stagecoach lost out - however they still made the announcement and the court process made no difference to the outcomes.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Am sure it’s happened in Rail Franchising when Stagecoach lost out - however they still made the announcement and the court process made no difference to the outcomes.

I thought that... Be surprised if it is Stagecoach making the noise, they've done alright so far...

 

[Leedsbusman]

I thought that... Be surprised if it is Stagecoach making the noise, they've done alright so far...

All bidders have a legal right to challenge the outcome of the bid during the mandatory 10 day standstill process. Any such challenge automatically pauses the contract award. I recall tranche 1 was pushed back one week as well, perhaps for a similar reason.

 

[Leyland Bus]

All bidders have a legal right to challenge the outcome of the bid during the mandatory 10 day standstill process. Any such challenge automatically pauses the contract award. I recall tranche 1 was pushed back one week as well, perhaps for a similar reason.

You would think that that time period would be built into the announcement process..

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

You would think that that time period would be built into the announcement process..

@Leedsbusman is correct. There is a mandatory standstill period of 10 days for any objections to be raised. That IS reflected in the announcement process and assumes no objection.

However, if there is an objection, the nature of it will dictate the level of investigation required and so the delay may vary

 

[mancbus]

Also would they already announce on the news a day before it been delayed.

@Leedsbusman is correct. There is a mandatory standstill period of 10 days for any objections to be raised. That IS reflected in the announcement process and assumes no objection.

However, if there is an objection, the nature of it will dictate the level of investigation required and so the delay may vary

 

[bussnapperwm]

The thing is, they now can't do it until after the local elections either due to purdah

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The thing is, they now can't do it until after the local elections either due to purdah

What seems very strange is that the requirements of the 6-week purdah covering the forthcoming elections would have been known best of all to those involved in local government who are supposed to be well versed in knowledge of such matters, who had seemingly had forgotten that the announced date of the tranche 3 results would not have been allowed to be made during that time period.

 

[mancbus]

What seems very strange is that the requirements of the 6-week purdah covering the forthcoming elections would have been known best of all to those involved in local government who are supposed to be well versed in knowledge of such matters, who had seemingly had forgotten that the announced date of the tranche 3 results would not have been allowed to be made during that time period.

But a few weeks ago the posted something about speculation of tranche 3 so how they would just forget about it is beyond me?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Mar 2024 ==

Speculation mounts over Tranche 3 winners

www.passengertransport.co.uk

 

[mangad]

I am certainly no expert on purdah but it doesn't stop anything and seems highly unlikely that the awarding of a contract to a company in a huge process like franchising, is likely to drum up loads of votes or controversy.

Bee Network is the policy and it's happening. The awarding of a contract to company X is almost incidental.

Getting Andy Burnham doing a load of publicity, okay, that's different. But simply saying who won, who cares?

 

[mancbus]

I am certainly no expert on purdah but it doesn't stop anything and seems highly unlikely that the awarding of a contract to a company in a huge process like franchising, is likely to drum up loads of votes or controversy.

Bee Network is the policy and it's happening. The awarding of a contract to company X is almost incidental.

Getting Andy Burnham doing a load of publicity, okay, that's different. But simply saying who won, who cares?

I think your it’s been biding since November and as you said it’s policy it shouldn’t excuse any delays what so ever.

 

[mancbus]

I am certainly no expert on purdah but it doesn't stop anything and seems highly unlikely that the awarding of a contract to a company in a huge process like franchising, is likely to drum up loads of votes or controversy.

Bee Network is the policy and it's happening. The awarding of a contract to company X is almost incidental.

Getting Andy Burnham doing a load of publicity, okay, that's different. But simply saying who won, who cares?

I think you’re right since they’ve been bidding for it since November. And as you said it’s only an announcement why would it be delayed?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Well, it's most certainly extended the life period of this particular thread...

 

[bussnapperwm]

It'd be interesting if an operator who isn't running buses in Manchester has won something, wouldn't it? Especially if it was Mobico, RATP or Comfortdelgro.

 

[daodao]

It'd be interesting if an operator who isn't running buses in Manchester has won something, wouldn't it? Especially if it was Mobico, RATP or Comfortdelgro.

The Singapore-based company Comfortdelgro does seem to be a likely contender; I used their route C1 in Cardiff last year and was impressed with the service quality, compared with D&G/Arriva who are the current/recent main local operators in Altrincham/East Cheshire, although their South Wales subsidiary (NAT) is about to prune its operations imminently, as @anthony263 has referred to on other threads.

I cannot imagine Stagecoach will retain all 4 of their existing depots serving the south and east of Greater Manchester covered by the tranche 3 tender award, particularly in view of their gains in tranche 2, and they are at serious risk of losing all 4. An "off the record" source stated that they are running down their Sharston depot in the expectation of losing it.

 

[mancbus]

What time will the announcement be released?

 

[Gareth1980]

What time will the announcement be released?

Delayed until next week.

 

[mangad]

I cannot imagine Stagecoach will retain all 4 of their existing depots serving the south and east of Greater Manchester covered by the tranche 3 tender award, particularly in view of their gains in tranche 2, and they are at serious risk of losing all 4. An "off the record" source stated that they are running down their Sharston depot in the expectation of losing it.

Being the biggest operator with five depots, Stagecoach always had a lot to lose with franchising. They've lost one (Wigan), retained one (Middleton) and are gaining two (Queens Road and Oldham) so aren't doing too badly. If they come out with just one or two large franchises, they'll still be a sizeable operator in the Manchester bus scene.

 

[Mancunian1996]

Delayed until next week.

I’m hearing Monday, which was the original date anyway.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I’m hearing Monday, which was the original date anyway.

Perhaps I may be mistaken, but I am sure that I read somewhere that Friday, 22nd March was to be the day of the announcement. Did anyone else see such a date as that?

 

[Goldfish62]

Perhaps I may be mistaken, but I am sure that I read somewhere that Friday, 22nd March was to be the day of the announcement. Did anyone else see such a date as that?

It was indeed supposed to be today. (confirmed by a TfGM source)

 

[Mancunian1996]

It was indeed supposed to be today. (confirmed by a TfGM source)

As I said, Monday will probably be the new date to coincide with the launch of Tranche 2. I’m hearing Andy is in Oldham on Monday morning.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

As I said, Monday will probably be the new date to coincide with the launch of Tranche 2. I’m hearing Andy is in Oldham on Monday morning.

Did something similar occur at the time of the launch of Tranche 1?

 

[mangad]

Did something similar occur at the time of the launch of Tranche 1?

Perhaps the delay is as simple as that they couldn't get enough yellow buses in place for Andy Burnham to stand in front of

 

[Mancunian1996]

Did something similar occur at the time of the launch of Tranche 1?

I think so.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Today, I did hear of the news that a pair of snow leopards will be a main attraction at Chester Zoo, but saw no mention made of a zebra.