West Coast Partnership: Awarded to First Trenitalia

[deltic]

The HS2 dimension seems totally ignored.
..

The dog that didn't bark! Suggests recognition that delivery of HS2 might be running a few years later than originally envisaged?

 

[krus_aragon]

From the Welsh perspective, the new (once daily?) service to Gobowen from 2022 will be an additional service to the existing Shrewsbury ones. No change for Wrexham (Central!) other than new stock. A summer Saturday service to Llandudno Town is due in 2021.

Stations on the coast as far as Llandudno Jn list

• later weekday last trains to Euston from 2020,
• earlier and later trains to/from Euston on Saturdays from 2022
• earlier and later trains to Euston on Sundays from 2022

These aren't listed for Bangor and Holyhead, which could be a muck-up, or could indicate extra services turning at Llandudno Jn.

The last VT weekday train from the NW coast currently operates to Birmingham, so extending it to Euston could an easy way of achieving that first goal.

And of course, the replacement of the Voyagers with thirteen mystery Bi-Modes (and 10 electrics).

 

[pdeaves]

Anyone else see the slightly amusing side that First won again (like the 'problem award' in 2012)?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Good to see Walsall and Oswestry receive there first InterCity services from next year - services of which I think will be well used.

The Gobowen service seems to be an extension of the current Wrexham service, via Chester.
So it will go on a roundabout route.
Could be started today with the present diagramming of the Wrexham Voyager.

 

[td97]

"at seat service for every passenger" and "additional luggage space" regarding the Pendolino refurb had better not compromise the buffet.
"New comfortable seats" are touted which I hope is in the spirit of the Northern refurb with the current, adequate, and already-comfortable ones reupholstered.
First also have a dismal mobile app offering compared to the current one used by VT/Arriva TOCs.
Scottish services slowed down with more stops at Lockerbie.
EMUs for Liverpool sounds like CAF 397s (or one iteration up to differentiate a longer version) as the TPE versions were reportedly being used in a test by VT.
Fairly underwhelming so far

 

[MalaiseForever]

Doesn’t seem to be anything particularly radical or exciting coming the west coast. Concerned about more luggage space on refurbed pendolino, does that mean fewer seats or new overhead racks?

 

[Wolfie]

Two comments:
1 First's track record suggests the quality of service on the WMCL will go backwards significantly.
2 Making this award at this time seems asinine to me. If Stagecoach win their legal action - which would be unsurprising given DfT's past record - DfT will have just cost the taxpayers tens if not hundreds of millions of pounds by compounding the damage arising from their decisions.

 

[hibtastic]

And if they get Meridians from East Mids too, over crowding could be solved.
Wonder if their HSTs will go to Scotrail.


Well done to First.
Looks like pulling out of East Mids to "concentrate on West Coast" served them well.

First have said they won’t be bidding for any other franchises now apart from the extension to GWR.

 

[Wolfie]

Anyone else see the slightly amusing side that First won again (like the 'problem award' in 2012)?

It will be even more ironic if DfT lose legal action again...

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The dog that didn't bark! Suggests recognition that delivery of HS2 might be running a few years later than originally envisaged?

Actually it does mention March 2026 as when the first phase of the franchise ends.
We'll have to see whether they can meet that date.
After that it's a management contract.

 

[krus_aragon]

The Gobowen service seems to be an extension of the current Wrexham service, via Chester.
So it will go on a roundabout route.
Could be started today with the present diagramming of the Wrexham Voyager.

Are you sure it's going via Wrexham? From the DfT's station-by-station listing, Shrewsbury gains an additional direct service from December 2022, the same date as Gobowen's new service. Plus, Chirk and Rhiwabon stations aren't mentioned at all.

 

[hibtastic]

Not sure if the new EMUs are for Liverpool or to allow Liverpool to go to 2 per hour.

They might be souped up commuter units like 350s and used on Brum to Euston for example to release Pendos.

 

[Wolfie]

Not sure if the new EMUs are for Liverpool or to allowprimary erpool to go to 2 per hour.

They might be souped up commuter units like 350s and used on Brum to Euston for example to release Pendos.

350s are ok for a secondary service between the capital and second city. Using them or similar for the primary service would go down like a bucket of sick particularly when compared with the service to more minor cities.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Are you sure it's going via Wrexham? From the DfT's station-by-station listing, Shrewsbury gains an additional direct service from December 2022, the same date as Gobowen's new service. Plus, Chirk and Rhiwabon stations aren't mentioned at all.

Yes but the service route map just shows a connection from Gobowen northwards via Wrexham.
I can't see WCP stopping at Chirk/Ruabon, any more than they do at Shotton/Abergele.

 

[KashmireHawker]

Anyone else see the slightly amusing side that First won again (like the 'problem award' in 2012)?

Further ironic too that tomorrow marks 7 years to the day since that announcement

 

[telstarbox]

Hopefully this means some decent Italian cuisine in First Class

 

[Cambrian359]

20 trains being replaced with 23 isn’t a huge increase is it,those in the know is that sufficient?

 

[ainsworth74]

20 trains being replaced with 23 isn’t a huge increase is it,those in the know is that sufficient?

Remember that there might be 20 Voyagers but they spend a lot of time coupled up on the WCML proper. so I'd lay money on the 13 bimode Voyager replacements to be full length trains rather than 5-car trains as they are currently which when added to the 10 EMUs for Liverpool starts to sound more reasonable.

 

[PR1Berske]

As other posters have said, a cautionary welcome to First. There are ongoing issues and a legal case to get through before we can be confident about the future.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Hopefully this means some decent Italian cuisine in First Class

And too-strong coffee serviced in micro-size cups...

 

[krus_aragon]

Yes but the service route map just shows a connection from Gobowen northwards via Wrexham.
I can't see WCP stopping at Chirk/Ruabon, any more than they do at Shotton/Abergele.

*digs out laptop*
Ah, they don't seem to want to show the map on that page if you're using a mobile browser.

I wouldn't have expected them to run it that way.

 

[PR1Berske]

The dog that didn't bark! Suggests recognition that delivery of HS2 might be running a few years later than originally envisaged?

The FAQs make reference to working with HS2 Ltd though not strictly referring to delivering HS2.

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

I notice it’s being touted as a “Partnership” franchise, whatever that means exactly. Is there any indication that it’ll involve some infrastructure or maintenance responsibility, similar to the valleys in Wales & Borders? I.e is the “partnership” element being referenced between First and Trenitalia; the TOC and NR; or the TOC and the DfT?

 

[gordonthemoron]

more seats/luggage space on Pendolinos sounds like removing the shop and possibly converting a first class coach to standard

 

[krus_aragon]

Remember that there might be 20 Voyagers but they spend a lot of time coupled up on the WCML proper. so I'd lay money on the 13 bimode Voyager replacements to be full length trains rather than 5-car trains as they are currently which when added to the 10 EMUs for Liverpool starts to sound more reasonable.

My first guess is that the bi-modes are going to be short (~5-car), and the EMUs will be full-length (9-car+). The current operations west of Chester are built around 5-car Voyagers and portion working, and there's no suggestion of a radical change is this morning's announcements.

 

[northken]

Fares-wise, there'll be the ability to change Advances and seat reservations on the day admin fee-free. Whilst this sounds passenger friendly, without knowing much more I hope it's not some more expensive fares model.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

more seats/luggage space on Pendolinos sounds like removing the shop and possibly converting a first class coach to standard

First class is already too busy in the evening peaks, especially on the nine cars. I can only pray that worst group don’t bring 2x2 seating with them ala South Western Railway...

 

[StaffsWCML]

Well done the government. Another franchise awarded to a useless company with a track record of mediocracy. When will they learn.

So now Abellio and First fun quite a large number of franchises in the UK and surprise surprise they are all crap...…..wonder why?

If we really want such unadulterated mediocracy maybe we should bring back BR.

 

[387star]

more seats/luggage space on Pendolinos sounds like removing the shop and possibly converting a first class coach to standard

Said improved catering though and thought first has been reduced several times already

 

[Antman]

Shop will go and be replaced with low capacity trolley. Unlikely to be a conversion of a carriage from first to standard. More like a standard plus at a quasi premium rate. So a few more seats but a lot more revenue. Say 2+2 around tables throughout. And even more airline seats in standard.