Will InterCity East Coast franchise definitely serve Middlesbrough from 2020?

[BantamMenace]

This article mentions that direct trains to London are set to begin in 2020. Have we had any confirmation whether the expanded service will still happen with VTEC's franchise ending early?

 

[swt_passenger]

The article mentions that direct trains to London are set to begin in 2020. Have we had any confirmation whether the expanded service will still happen with VTEC's franchise ending early?

DfT have ordered the trains already...

 

[BantamMenace]

DfT have ordered the trains already...

I don't think that's necessarily a guarantee the improved service will happen. The staff haven't be hired, the routes learnt or the stock cleared for the routes.

The trains could easily end up on the MML, with XC or even with Chiltern/Scotrail to replace their mark 3s. I'm not saying any of those will happen but I'm making the point that trains ordered for one franchise could easily end up with another, especially in times of financial uncertainty like the EC franchise is currently going through.

 

[47802]

I don't think that's necessarily a guarantee the improved service will happen. The staff haven't be hired, the routes learnt or the stock cleared for the routes.

The trains could easily end up on the MML, with XC or even with Chiltern/Scotrail to replace their mark 3s. I'm not saying any of those will happen but I'm making the point that trains ordered for one franchise could easily end up with another, especially in times of financial uncertainty like the EC franchise is currently going through.

I'm not sure about that particularly as the initial mainly Bi-mode batch for the East Coast are on the expensive lease, and even under DOR I cannot see that there wont be at least some service improvements.

 

[ainsworth74]

I believe the answer is that no-one knows (or at least there's nothing in the public domain) and no-one is likely to know until it's clearer what is happening with the ICEC franchise beyond the next few months.