Thameslink Southern & Great Northern Franchise

[Bald Rick]

How likely is it that the "long way around" will be used as a diversionary route in the event of core disruption? (via Freight Terminal Junction, Camden Road, Willesden Junction, Clapham Junction). Or are there just not enough NLL/WLL paths.

Nil.

It's not being considered.

 

[Class377/5]

How likely is it that the "long way around" will be used as a diversionary route in the event of core disruption? (via Freight Terminal Junction, Camden Road, Willesden Junction, Clapham Junction). Or are there just not enough NLL/WLL paths.

Don't forget not a single driver from either FCC or Southern would sign it. Currently its only used on one return trip a day for stock to reach Hornsey and that will end once the Canal Tunnels opens next year.

 

[LBSCR Times]

Don't forget not a single driver from either FCC or Southern would sign it. Currently its only used on one return trip a day for stock to reach Hornsey and that will end once the Canal Tunnels opens next year.

And that is a GBRf driver.....

 

[Class377/5]

And that is a GBRf driver.....

Canal Tunnels won't be GBRf. All Thameslink Core drivers will sign it.

 

[thelem]

Having all 700s in red, all 377s in green and all 365s in orange has no detriment because those units are not easily interchangeable anyway.

Routes may use multiple classes though, just look at the 442s that were originally branded as 'Gatwick Express', but later rebranded to just 'Express' when they were used on journeys that didn't even stop at Gatwick. Or the way that Brighton-Bedford is using some 377s becuase they wanted more capacity than could be provided by 319s alone.

 

[jopsuk]

Canal Tunnels won't be GBRf. All Thameslink Core drivers will sign it.

Quite. They'll need to, what with running passenger services that way.

 

[Pretendolino]

So, at the prospect of the largest UK TOC emerging in a year or so's time, most of the debate has been around livery?! :P. Does anyone have any more updates on how the bidding is going?

 

[jon0844]

I thought the DfT was making its decision based purely on the liveries?

 

[swt_passenger]

So, at the prospect of the largest UK TOC emerging in a year or so's time, most of the debate has been around livery?! :P. Does anyone have any more updates on how the bidding is going?

How many people do you think there are who post here, work in DfT rail, and have access to sealed bids?

 

[Fincra5]

I thought they just pulled straws!

 

[AndrewP]

I thought they just pulled straws!

That may be OJEU compliant (as long as the straws are of the same length!)

 

[Class377/5]

How many people do you think there are who post here, work in DfT rail, and have access to sealed bids?

If they do, they'd not put it on here. As the official timetable is an May announcement its still a bit too early especially as it once of the first after the West Coast.

 

[swt_passenger]

Generally the bid processes over the last decade or so have been fairly leak proof, until the last couple of days anyway. As you say it is really far too early to expect anything to drip out...

Virgin pre-emptively going ballistic about the WCML was very much the exception....

 

[Pretendolino]

I heard that one of the top guys at MTR has resigned. Not sure if there's any truth in that though. If there is, then I imagine it means they are out of contention.

 

[Bald Rick]

I heard that one of the top guys at MTR has resigned. Not sure if there's any truth in that though. If there is, then I imagine it means they are out of contention.

Might be confusing the news with that of Steve Murphy, head of Arriva Rail UK, leaving a couple of weeks ago. He used to run LOROL, as part of the joint venture between MTR / DB Regio (owners of Arriva)

 

[Pretendolino]

Might be confusing the news with that of Steve Murphy, head of Arriva Rail UK, leaving a couple of weeks ago. He used to run LOROL, as part of the joint venture between MTR / DB Regio (owners of Arriva)

That is probably it then. In which case I don't think that would have any repercussions with regards to the bid.