Formal award in theory is March but we the winner may find out verbally either this week or next. But with the shambles going on in government and by extension the DfT who knows!
-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
SouthEastern franchise direct award through to 1 April 2020 (& franchise competition terminated)
- Thread starter Stow
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
pdeaves
Established Member
For a three month lead lime, mid-March would work (though that's pretty much semantics). However, it seems to be accepted opinion that this would not happen resulting in a further extension to the incumbent.
So we're assuming a further South Eastern Extension?
It's going to happen, although I hear Failing isn't keen.
The last 2 bidders are Stagecoach and a consortium of govia and keolis. So don't think I either would be classed as an extension as I don't think the current govia franchise is a jv.
alistairlees
Established Member
- Joined
- 29 Dec 2016
- Messages
- 3,737
Govia is a go-ahead / Keolis JV
Dmthomson
Member
Brexit most likely I'd imagine.
I've heard this as well, so on that assumption is a extension not inevitable?
urpert
Member
Did I miss Abellio pulling out?
Didn't pull out, just weren't selected by dft for the final 2
Sorry, getting my go's confused!
Was this announced anywhere ?
urpert
Member
News to me as well and I’ve been following this one obsessively
It's fake news.
They have spent so much time trying to make sure that all the i's are dotted and t's crossed that they've run out of time. Plus they may be worried that the successful bidder will request an immediate change due to a No Deal Brexit. It's itchy bum time at DfT.
pdeaves
Established Member
Abellio seems to think it's still in. Latest news at https://www.abellio.com/south-eastern-franchise-bid; I would expect a 'disappointment/regret' statement if they were no longer in the running.
Bidders are required to keep quiet at this stage even if they are out of the running.
pdeaves
Established Member
Even if it is generally known they are not in the final 2 (see post 192)?
Last edited:
HH suggests otherwise in post 196...
43074
Established Member
- Joined
- 10 Oct 2012
- Messages
- 2,017
Thanks. Presumably being over-cautious at this stage will affect delivery of things like timetable changes and new rolling stock after the new franchise commences, as everything else - e.g. contract awards to new train manufacturers - will be delayed, so surely it may well backfire on them at a later date too?
OxtedSignaller
Member
- Joined
- 31 Jul 2010
- Messages
- 360
Govia are also seeming pretty confident they are being retained from what has been speculated but surely in that case they would just announce it and award the full contract so who knows... DfT seem pretty uncompetent as per usual at running franchise competitions, perhaps ironically they are never run according to the published timetable.
Yes, everything will be delayed. We're quite used to that these days.
I think it's a question of smoke with no fire at all. Well, unless someone in Abellio knows that they intend to unilaterally withdraw. Anything's possible on this mad franchise.
I think it quite likely that LSER will get yet another extension; maybe someone's getting confused.
DfT are still making their minds up and it seems unlikely that an announcement is imminent.
Class 466
Established Member
- Joined
- 5 Mar 2010
- Messages
- 1,423
With a statement like this, surely it is illogical for the DFT to tender either this or the East Midlands Franchise surely? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47378448?SThisFB
3141
Established Member
That's one way of looking at it - though actually tenders have already been received for those franchises and it's a question of whether or not the DfT awards them to one of the bidders.
But if the contracts aren't awarded, the existing franchisees remain in place, and there will be no or very little development until some time after a new system has been set up. No-one yet knows what that new system might be, or what priority within it would be given to improvements to services in the South Eastern and East Midlands areas, or how the money for improvements will be raised. I think if I regularly used either of those services I'd rather see the future arrangements settled for the next seven years or so, rather than further extensions of the present ones.
43074
Established Member
- Joined
- 10 Oct 2012
- Messages
- 2,017
Agreed, whilst franchising isn't necessarily the best system, it's the system in place at the moment and I think most people would rather the improvements were delivered as proposed in the bids than delayed further to allow the system to be reformed and for the same outcomes to be delivered anyway.
- Status