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East Coast franchise discussion (Previously: Rumour VT/Stagecoach to win)

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Robertj21a

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But what if they get it wrong by awarding it to Stagecoach/Virgin?

In that case, it would be interesting to see if others are sufficiently astute to pick any error up !! If they're not then nobody (other than BS/RB) would be any the wiser.
 
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Drsatan

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If the franchise wasn't awarded to Stagecoach/Virgin, Beardy and Souter will (if the VWC debacle is anything to go by) cry foul and start a legal challenge to overturn the DfT's decision.

Who knows: if that were to happen, we might see a repeat of the Laidlaw report.
 

Suraggu

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If the franchise wasn't awarded to Stagecoach/Virgin, Beardy and Souter will (if the VWC debacle is anything to go by) cry foul and start a legal challenge to overturn the DfT's decision.

Who knows: if that were to happen, we might see a repeat of the Laidlaw report.

Il be honest, I don't think Beardy and the Scot would kick up much of a stink if they lost. The VWC is Beardys baby and when he lost it to First he went on an all out war but when he bid for franchises he ran and lost, Cross Country for instance, he didn't kick up any fuss expect his disappointment.
 

GNER 373

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I hope a new 'unseen' company get it making sure it sticks close to the current 'operators' efforts as in my opinion they have done very well in getting EC back to its best after the GNER leaving/National Express mess.

I'd be surprised if one of the 'big' companies doesn't get it though (First/Virgin etc)
 

LNW-GW Joint

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I hope a new 'unseen' company get it making sure it sticks close to the current 'operators' efforts as in my opinion they have done very well in getting EC back to its best after the GNER leaving/National Express mess.
I'd be surprised if one of the 'big' companies doesn't get it though (First/Virgin etc)

It has to be one on the short list (First/Virgin-Stagecoach/Keolis-Eurostar).
Otherwise, they have to cancel the procurement and start all over again.
 

Bald Rick

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If the franchise wasn't awarded to Stagecoach/Virgin, Beardy and Souter will (if the VWC debacle is anything to go by) cry foul and start a legal challenge to overturn the DfT's decision.

Who knows: if that were to happen, we might see a repeat of the Laidlaw report.

They started legal action on west coast because they knew that the correct process had not been followed, thanks to the oft quoted spreadsheet issue.

One has to assume that Dft has its house in order in this respect now, and the lack of legal challenge for TSGN or Essex Thameside suggests that it has.
 

Blindtraveler

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Nowhere near enough to a Pacer :(
so, will this announce tomorrow (Friday)? The last few have done and doing it other days this week would have been a challenge in terms of media coverage in Scotland due to the little thing of a new First Minister and the departure of the last one!
 

Suraggu

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so, will this announce tomorrow (Friday)? The last few have done and doing it other days this week would have been a challenge in terms of media coverage in Scotland due to the little thing of a new First Minister and the departure of the last one!

Well if it is, it is being kept extremely quiet. Yes we have the Bi election The south east tonight and the SNP leadership change but I do not think any of them will effect the date of the announcement.
The last rumour to be heard was the DfT was still talking to all 3 bidders, this happened during the ICWC bid. The DfT said they were on track for a announcement in November and the DfT don't lie..... ;)
 

Stats

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And to complete the picture of front runners....

http://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/539116/East-Coast-Mainline-Privatised-French-bidder
French-state rail set for East Coast

THE Department for Transport is set to announce the privatisation of the East Coast Mainline this week, with a joint bid from Eurostar and Keolis understood to be the frontrunner.

Eurostar and Keolis are competing against First Group and a joint bid from Virgin/Stagecoach to take control of the line from next year. However, sources close to the process believe First Group and Virgin’s efforts will fall short.
 

Class 170101

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Keolis should be aware of the standards expected of them by British rail passengers by now having had minority stakes in both Transpennine Express and Southern (also GTR).
 

Masboroughlad

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Stats:1982268 said:
And to complete the picture of front runners....

http://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/539116/East-Coast-Mainline-Privatised-French-bidder
French-state rail set for East Coast

THE Department for Transport is set to annoutnce the privatisation of the East Coast Mainline this week, with a joint bid from Eurostar and Keolis understood to be the frontrunner.

Eurostar and Keolis are competing against First Group and a joint bid from Virgin/Stagecoach to take control of the line from next year. However, sources close to the process believe First Group and Virgin’s efforts will fall short.

So nothing definite again then?!
 

Masboroughlad

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Well I look forward to seeing what they propose - whoever wins it.

Still mourn the day GNER lost the plot.......
 

Saint66

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This was published in the Express... Think I'll wait for a slightly more reputable paper source. (Does such a thing exist anyway?)
 

ModernRailways

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Prepare for mucky trains and lacklustre service if my experience of E* is anything to go by.

Really? Eurostar have always been top notch for me, interior is always nice and clean, albeit dated and in need of a refurb.

This is actually something that's been discussed in the 'International Transport' section.
 

3141

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If it turns out not to be Eurostar/Keolis after all, Mick Cash will need some different comments. But he's probably got remarks lined up for both the other bidders.
 

jon0844

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The remarks aren't any different to those of Mr Crow. Probably has a folder of ready to go comments that he left.
 
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bicbasher

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The rise of M&S food etc must be causing the TOC's problems. There's one at Euston and it's far cheaper to stock up there than buy anything on the train, and it's decent quality. This must really affect VT's takings. I think a lot of the big Network Rail stations have M&S's so it must be really abstractive from TOC's revenues.

If you look at the recent decision to remove the trolley service from Southeastern services. Charing Cross has M&S on the station site with Sainsbury's Local and the Co-op less than a minute walk away selling food at near supermarket prices.

Supermarket branded convenience stores are close enough to all of Southeastern's terminal stations.
 

WatcherZero

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The source for the newspaper stories seems to be Mike Cash of the RMT, so not sure whether genuinely believes it or attempting to stir against privatisation again.
 

DaveNewcastle

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If you look at the recent decision to remove the trolley service from Southeastern services. Charing Cross has M&S on the station site with Sainsbury's Local and . . . . .
I'm struggling to apply this comment to the subject: the awarding of a franchise to operate the East Coast services.

I'm well aware of the proximity of supermarkets, convenience stores and station outlets at most East Coast stations from Kings Cross to Inverness, but the journeys taken do not in the slightlest reflect the market on Southeastern trains. With typical journey times of 3 or 5 hours, the operator is provided with a valuable captive market for on-board retail and catering, no amount of retail opportunities before departure will diminish those opportunities. Any operator failing to exploit that market on the ECML would be jepordising 8-digits of annual revenue.
 
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jon0844

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Difficult to tell. If the result is due 'within hours' and was issued under embargo, I can imagine someone might think it okay to just write a story like this in the hope that it doesn't get them in trouble, but also reveals the winner at the same time.

I guess we'll know if it's being announced in the morning and it turns out to be correct.
 

Suraggu

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Difficult to tell. If the result is due 'within hours' and was issued under embargo, I can imagine someone might think it okay to just write a story like this in the hope that it doesn't get them in trouble, but also reveals the winner at the same time.

I guess we'll know if it's being announced in the morning and it turns out to be correct.

I was informed Thursaday 27th but at this late stage who knows.
 
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