Keolis/Amey to take over Wales and Borders

[JetStream]

Keolis/Amey wins £5bn Wales rail contract - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-44221184

A £5bn contract to run Wales' rail service for the next 15 years has been awarded to two European firms, who will run it jointly.

France's Keolis and Spanish-owned Amey's bid triumphed over a rival offer from Hong Kong's MTR commuter railways.

It will also develop the south Wales Metro, a project worth £5bn.

The company said while the changes would not happen overnight Wales' railway "would be unrecognisable" in five years time.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/keolisamey-win-new-wales--14692626

After a competitive procurement process, overseen by the Welsh Government's at arm's length transport body, Transport of Wales, the joint venture partners of French transport giant Keolis and leading infrastructure management consultancy Amey, have been chosen to run the next Wales & Borders franchise and deliver the next phase of the Metro project with electrification of the core Valley Lines into Cardiff...

 

[700007]

Well done to Keolis Amey, it is good to see them back in the game.

 

[KashmireHawker]

It's quite bizzare that no proper meaty details have been announced as is usual before the 10 day standstill kicks in, but as long the 158's look a lot cleaner than they do currently when heading through Wolverhampton, then I won't scream and shout. Considering it sounds like a £5 Billion contract, they have a lot to live up for and do, so let's hope they do!

 

[whhistle]

The company said it was a great opportunity and promised the railway "would be unrecognisable" in five years time.

Hmm. Must. Not. Be. Cynical.

Wonder what they'll call the new company.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

KeolisAmey have a Wales & Borders page on their web site now, marked "coming soon".
It shows a 158 on the Cambrian Coast.

Coming soon...

We look forward to sharing our vision for Wales once the procurement process has officially concluded and the contract has been awarded.

 

[iantherev]

It's quite bizzare that no proper meaty details have been announced as is usual before the 10 day standstill kicks in, but as long the 158's look a lot cleaner than they do currently when heading through Wolverhampton, then I won't scream and shout. Considering it sounds like a £5 Billion contract, they have a lot to live up for and do, so let's hope they do!

Having kept everything under wraps for so long, you don’t think the WAG are going to sanction anything getting into the public domain unless it absolutely has to? Hopefully when something emerges it will be more than shiny,msparkly 158s.

 

[KashmireHawker]

Anyhow and via a lengthy article via WalesOnline, Mr Skates has released the following statement:

Part of the article entitled "KeolisAmey Win new Wales and Borders rail franchise bid" - as linked below:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/busin...win-new-wales--14692626#ICID=sharebar_twitter
​

"Following a rigorous procurement process under the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016, I am delighted to confirm the Welsh Government’s intention to award the contract to operate and develop the Wales and Borders rail service and South Wales Metro to KeolisAmey.

​

"KeolisAmey is a joint venture partnership of international public transport operator, Keolis, and infrastructure asset management specialist, Amey.

​

In accordance with usual procurement practice, there will now be a statutory standstill period of 10 days before the Welsh Government will be in a position to enter into, and complete, the formal contractual documentation and make the award.

​

Upon completion of the standstill period, the contract will run from 04 June 2018 to 14 October 2033, with rail services transferring on 14 October 2018.

​

Neither Transport for Wales nor the Welsh Government will be able to comment on aspects of the procurement process until the end of the standstill period and will not make any further comment until the contract has been awarded."

 

[sjoh]

Well done to Keolis Amey, it is good to see them back in the game.

"back in the game"!?! They operate southeastern, the Docklands Light Railway, trams in both Nottingham and Manchester, as well as a large shareholding in unmitigated disaster, Govia Thameslink Railway.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

It now all depends on MTR.
They have to be debriefed on why they lost, and then consider whether to appeal (unlikely, I'd say).
Once they have decided that (may not be 10 days), the WG can move on contract signature.
The 10 days comes from the case where Alstom objected to Siemens getting the class 374 Eurostar contract, after which the EU recommended a standstill period for appeals.
Amusingly, Alstom and Siemens train-building operations are now well on the way to being merged!
​

 

[Gareth Marston]

KeolisAmey have a Wales & Borders page on their web site now, marked "coming soon".
It shows a 158 on the Cambrian Coast.
http://www.keolisamey.cymru/about-wales-and-borders/

Well one thing is for sure they will be operating 158's on the Cambrian Coast as Welsh Government are paying for PRM mods, retention toilets and emptying facilities at Machynlleth for the current W&B 158 fleet.

Other choices of photos they could use that are accurate as some large jigsaw pieces are already in the pubic domain..

150 @ Barry Island
Photoshopped options -
1/2 & 2/3 door arrangement DMU @ Manchester Oxford Rd
Tram @ Pontlottyn and other places north of Queen St
Tram depot @ Taffs Well
World Class Toilet Facilities @ Abercynon
Platform congestion @ Cardiff Central
Elderly passenger desperate for the toilet on a tram stuck mid section due to signal failure.
Valley commuter saying "I wanted seat but got a grab handle on a tram instead".

 

[pdeaves]

KeolisAmey have a Wales & Borders page on their web site now, marked "coming soon".
It shows a 158 on the Cambrian Coast.
http://www.keolisamey.cymru/about-wales-and-borders/

Ooh, unfortunate colours in the owner's logos makes it look like Keo Lisamey...

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

"back in the game"!?! They operate southeastern, the Docklands Light Railway, trams in both Nottingham and Manchester, as well as a large shareholding in unmitigated disaster, Govia Thameslink Railway.

Strictly, GTR is only Keolis (as part of Govia) and is a management contract.
Govia also have South Eastern (for now), having recently lost London Midland to Abellio.

Amey has a finger in many construction and services pies and is a major subcontractor to Network Rail (and to Welsh Government, eg trunk roads).
It took over many of Carillion's unfinished projects including MML Corby electrification.

 

[JetStream]

Hmm. Must. Not. Be. Cynical.

Wonder what they'll call the new company.

World Class Rail

 

[sjoh]

Strictly, GTR is only Keolis (as part of Govia) and is a management contract.
Govia also have South Eastern (for now), having recently lost London Midland to Abellio.

Amey has a finger in many construction and services pies and is a major subcontractor to Network Rail (and to Welsh Government, eg trunk roads).
It took over many of Carillion's unfinished projects including MML Corby electrification.

Interestingly, Keolis list Govia and southeastern as separate holdings. I do wonder why...

 

[alexl92]

IS this franchise one that will have a generic, non-operator specific brand, like LNER or GWR? Presumably all the stock will be rebranded?

 

[sjoh]

IS this franchise one that will have a generic, non-operator specific brand, like LNER or GWR? Presumably all the stock will be rebranded?

"Neither Transport for Wales nor the Welsh Government will be able to comment on aspects of the procurement process until the end of the standstill period and will not make any further comment until the contract has been awarded."

 

[PR1Berske]

"Wales and Borders" must feature in the franchise name, that detail was confirmed a while back and was discussed in the previous thread. Maybe it will just be that and the Welsh translation.

 

[185]

I am aware one consideration in the change will involve the way the incumbent franchisee has been managed. With TUPE, every man and his dog will/can transfer to the new business, however in this case I believe there may be several areas of the current management on the way out after the new operator is in position in autumn. I don't think repeatedly blaming failures, compliance issues and low reliability on being a 'no growth franchise' has not gone down well with the AMs.

 

[JetStream]

I am aware one consideration in the change will involve the way the incumbent franchisee has been managed. With TUPE, every man and his dog will/can transfer to the new business, however in this case I believe there may be several areas of the current management on the way out after the new operator is in position in autumn. I don't think repeatedly blaming failures, compliance issues and low reliability on being a 'no growth franchise' has not gone down well with the AMs.

Most of the former management team are long gone, including the ex-MD. Still expect a clear out though.

 

[Bwlch y Groes]

I don't think repeatedly blaming failures, compliance issues and low reliability on being a 'no growth franchise' has not gone down well with the AMs.

Ha, the truth hurts. It'll all be the fault of Keolis management when everyone hates the trams, right?

Well, at least we now know the winner, if nothing else. I look forward to finding out nothing for far too long and the Welsh government sliding out all the bad bits on the quiet so no one finds out until the track's ripped up

 

[mde]

Aaaand, like magic, here's the line from the RMT:

RMT RESPONSE TO ANNOUNCEMENT ON WELSH RAIL FRANCHISE
General Secretary Mick Cash said;

“RMT policy is for a national integrated railway under public ownership and the Welsh government has made it clear that this is their aspiration as well if they did not have to work under the pro privatisation legislative straight jacket imposed by the UK Government.

"The fact that rail privatisation is being enforced on the people of Wales by Whitehall is even more galling when the Tories have been forced to nationalise East Coast and the Westminster Cross Party Public Accounts Committee have said the rail franchising model is broken.

"However, RMT welcomes the fact that despite these constraints the Welsh Government has committed to keep a guard on every train alongside other commitments to work with RMT to protect jobs and conditions of rail workers in Wales.”

Ends

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-response-to-announcement-on-welsh-rail-franchise/

 

[mallard]

IS this franchise one that will have a generic, non-operator specific brand, like LNER or GWR? Presumably all the stock will be rebranded?

Well, it's pretty clear that they won't be calling it "Arriva Trains Wales" and the Arriva corportate colours aren't likely to remain... KeiliosAmey/Govia's previous franchises/operations have all used fairly "generic" branding, so I'd expect that they'll continue that trend.

 

[Gareth Marston]

IS this franchise one that will have a generic, non-operator specific brand, like LNER or GWR? Presumably all the stock will be rebranded?

Red and White colors of Transport for Wales according to a source in Welsh Government.

 

[mde]

Red and White colors of Transport for Wales.

That'll look lovely on a Pacer

 

[JetStream]

Red and White colors of Transport for Wales according to a source in Welsh Government.

Heard the same, it'll be generic branding that won't need changing much beyond 2033.

 

[JetStream]

That'll look lovely on a Pacer

And nicer on staff uniforms.. Virgin v1?!

 

[Bwlch y Groes]

Aaaand, like magic, here's the line from the RMT:

"However, RMT welcomes the fact that despite these constraints the Welsh Government has committed to keep a guard on every train alongside other commitments to work with RMT to protect jobs and conditions of rail workers in Wales.”

lol

I see Sion Barry is chuntering on like this is a football team - "we now need to get behind the lads, and show support for the new management". Also he's got a real cheek to say Network Rail spending has been decreased, after that massive spend on CASR and the new platform at Cardiff Central! Is this the new Welsh government line - we have to take the lines out of Network Rail and give them to a private contractor to maintain because Network Rail weren't spending anything on them? What a joke

 

[Gareth Marston]

Aaaand, like magic, here's the line from the RMT:


https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-response-to-announcement-on-welsh-rail-franchise/

Guard on every train....not every Tram though....................

 

[Gareth Marston]

lol

I see Sion Barry is chuntering on like this is a football team - "we now need to get behind the lads, and show support for the new management". Also he's got a real cheek to say Network Rail spending has been decreased, after that massive spend on CASR and the new platform at Cardiff Central! Is this the new Welsh government line - we have to take the lines out of Network Rail and give them to a private contractor to maintain because Network Rail weren't spending anything on them? What a joke

Given his brother was on the losing bid team perhaps its coded sibling rivalry?

Welsh Labour do appear to want to rewrite history on rail in Wales since devolution and Sion Berry is part of that agenda.

The most significant thing he writes is this though-

There are still some inter-governmental issues to sign off, including the UK Government’s Department for Transport agreeing to transfer the current Network Rail-owned asset for the core Valley Lines over to the Welsh Government.

It could all still go tits up - over to Mr Grayling?

 

[47802]

Well highly impressive that apart from the winning bidder they have managed to say virtually nothing, unlike other franchises where we have had some level of detail even during the standstill period. Is it the case that many aspects of it are not very good and they are hoping everyone will forget about it.