DfT could specify improvements. But those inprovements will come with a price tag attached, essentially stipulated by Arriva.
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XC Direct Award
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DfT could specify improvements. But those inprovements will come with a price tag attached, essentially stipulated by Arriva.
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RailUK Forums
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
The OP talks about DfT exercising an optional extension of the current XC direct award contract.
That is not a new direct award and is just an administrative process at the choice of the government.
There is no reason to expect any of the franchise terms to change.
Once beyond the options in the current direct award, a new one will be required.
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It's not uncommon for employees to be informed of such matters before the general public; multiple XC staff (who I know do work for XC) have confirmed the announcement was made internally so there is no doubt that it is true.
Class 170101
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Will probably be made at 07:00 (tomorrow or another day) before the markets open.
That was my point. The dft appears to be really backing itself into a corner over this. They will have absolutely no choice but to give another Direct Award to arriva next year and at present it does really appear as if Arriva are that bothered about continuing with the franchise and there doesn’t seem like there is much interest from others either.
This is a franchise that needs dramatic improvement now not in 7 or 8 years. I travelled from Banbury to Manchester Pic earlier today and the 4 coach voyager was full and standing the whole journey. People arguing over reserves seats and absolutely no chance for the catering trolley to get through (though he did try, bless him). The vast majority of XC services are like that (Intercity & Regional) and there is not a single improvement insight (or even the opportunity for improvement)
This thread is about the Direct Award itself.
If anyone wishes to post speculation, you are more than welcome to do so, but please ensure that you create a thread (or reply to an existing one, if there is a suitable thread already) in the Speculative Ideas section where these can be discussed.
I have split some posts here https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ster-and-birmingham-to-boost-capacity.185440/ but it is best that people do this themselves rather than for moderators to split posts later.
If someone goes off topic and you wish to reply, please create a new thread in the appropriate section, and report the first post to go off topic (using the 'Report' button and let us know the details), rather than continuing the off topic discussion. Thanks
If anyone wishes to post speculation, you are more than welcome to do so, but please ensure that you create a thread (or reply to an existing one, if there is a suitable thread already) in the Speculative Ideas section where these can be discussed.
I have split some posts here https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ster-and-birmingham-to-boost-capacity.185440/ but it is best that people do this themselves rather than for moderators to split posts later.
If someone goes off topic and you wish to reply, please create a new thread in the appropriate section, and report the first post to go off topic (using the 'Report' button and let us know the details), rather than continuing the off topic discussion. Thanks
Jorge Da Silva
Established Member
Any news on a direct award from the DfT any improvements or changes?
221129
Established Member
My reading of the announcement is that there was the option of a 1 year extension which has been taken up, until October 2020 and then there will now be negotiations about a new future direct award for beyond that date with 'an aspiration to improve capacity.' Which means nothing really going to change massively until October 2020.
Jorge Da Silva
Established Member
It was an option of up to 5 years. They may have decided to wait until after Williams Review
CheshireCrusty
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This is absolutely nothing new - I used to do this journey fairly frequently many years ago and it was like this on most journeys. A female friend complained that when she needed to use the loo, there were 6 people standing in the toilet and who refused / were unable to move as the vestibules were already fully crush loaded.
In the Virgin XC country days the problems were slightly alleviated by the use of 5 car sets or an occasional double up. Also it was the passengers who had to fight their way through the train to get to the shop, rather than the trolley trying to get to the passengers.
Totally unacceptable for a service where most journeys exceed two hours - but then Dft has always regarded XC as a Birmingham - Derby commuter service which happens to extend to Penzance, Aberdeen and Bournemouth! A complete rethink of this franchise is required.
Jorge Da Silva
Established Member
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/ne...ains-manea-cambridge-jamespalmer-16536447.amp
Seems like CrossCountry has got a franchise extension to 2021.
Seems like CrossCountry has got a franchise extension to 2021.
dk1
Veteran Member
Stripped of its franchise for not stopping more trains at Manea
It must be the Fenland soil getting to him. For its population he should be extremely grateful GA stops there every two hours. The world gets madder by the day.
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221129
Established Member
October 31st 2020 is when the current direct award ends.
It's a crazy idea but is not relevant to this topic, so I have created a new thread in the correct section for ideas: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...stance-tocs-to-call-at-minor-stations.185636/ ; if anyone wishes to discuss that further please do feel free to reply in that thread.Stripped of its franchise for not stopping more trains at Manea
And if anyone has any other ideas for XC, or spots ideas others have had, feel free to create a new thread in the Speculative Ideas section. Discussion of ideas (whether sensible or crazy) is always welcome, as long as it's made in the right place
221129
Established Member
There were no solid plans for it to happen anyway. No one knows what the future of franchising will be until after the William's Review and how the DfT decide to implement things.
morgainelive
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It really isn't fair on X Country too as there is very little they can do with direct awards why invest when it's just 15 months? They only struggle in certain points. Manchester to Birmingham is o.k. busy but only crowded at peak or Sunday , the going Eastern routes need 4 cars all day . 5 cars would be sufficient most of the time on some routes but it's just bad organisation and timing of the Dft. I've an idea bring the pacers south they're free soon #i am joking.
Today 1332 BHM to Manchester is 8 cars never seen that before though.
Today 1332 BHM to Manchester is 8 cars never seen that before though.
dk1
Veteran Member
Has the Crewe-Stoke-Brum-Euston helped relieve the Manchester XCs at all?
ohgoditsjames
Member
Unacceptable if true, anyone who travels regularly with XC will know how woefully inadequate the Voyagers are in terms of capacity, the one positive about them is how nippy they are. The 7 car HST’s that they have are significantly better but they don’t have enough of them, shame that there isn’t any LNER HST’s spare, oh wait...
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CptCharlee
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Crosscountry cannot keep going the way its struggling for a further 2 years. Its capacity issues are seriously worrying and needs to be dealt with.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
It's managed 20 odd years like that, so I'd imagine it *can* (and I will continue to decline to travel on their services as a result).
4-SUB 4732
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Can you give a source? A name perhaps?
221129
Established Member
It was announced by Tom Joyner. The MD of CrossCountry. Is that a source enough for you?
4-SUB 4732
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Nothing online such as a news article put online though in accordance with forum rules?
221129
Established Member
Unfortunately not everything in life is put online in a publicly available format.
Aictos
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Stripped of its franchise for not stopping more trains at Manea
I agree, there is no reason for XC either in this direct award or the next one to have extra stops on their services to stop at Manea when any extra calls is and should remain the responsibility of Greater Anglia.
The Telegraph reported a 5 year extension wasn’t able to be reached so the 12 month extension enacted.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/busines...raise-rail-red-flag-fallout-arrivas-3bn-sale/
Apologies - I didn’t realise there was a paywall. Here’s a screenshot of the sentence. View media item 3440
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/busines...raise-rail-red-flag-fallout-arrivas-3bn-sale/
Apologies - I didn’t realise there was a paywall. Here’s a screenshot of the sentence. View media item 3440
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dk1
Veteran Member
Exactly even though XC stopped there before GA started to. All Ipswich-Peterborough services call on weekdays but do not serve Cambridge. Obviously Manea passengers (all in single figures) struggle with changing trains at Ely.
Aictos
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Well that if the Peterborough to Ipswich and Ipswich to Cambridge services ran as one, there wouldn’t be a issue.
In any case, there is no need for XC to stop there as they already stop at March so Manea passengers can change there if they want a more direct service to Cambridge.
Also it’s no hardship to change at Ely especially as it’s same platform interchange going to Cambridge.
XC should run semi fast with the likes of Greater Anglia, West Midlands Trains etc picking up local calls.
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