Eagle
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How do you get to Glasgow Queen Street HL from the WCML?
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"Eurostar bids for East Coast Main Line franchise"
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How do you get to Glasgow Queen Street HL from the WCML?
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tbtc
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True - but then Stirling to Carlisle via Edinburgh (rather than Coatbridge) would be slow and more of a "box ticking" exercise (hmm, the kind of tokenistic thing that looks good when putting in a franchise bid?)
route:oxford
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junglejames
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I have yet to find any Anti IEP on here who has combined these 2 complaints.
However yes on other forums some people have complained about both underfloor engines, and the possibilitiy of services being cut back. But there are very good reasons for this, and im not sure if the fears have been laid to rest or not by the DfT.
Complaining about the possibility of services being cut back has nothing whatsoever to do with dual mode or not dual mode. So it really is not curious. Its quite reasonable to question this possibility.
Nobody has yet questioned Inverness though. The person on here just asked whether it would be safe, as he believed it now would be. Dual mode was never mentioned or complained about.
TrainBoy98
Member
Anyone think that Stagecoach might make a bid for the ECML on their own and not go in with Virgin? Or MTR have another go at getting a franchise?
Eagle
Established Member
Well if Virgin bid, Stagecoach won't.
TrainBoy98
Member
But Stagecoach might want to go alone, as they have with other franchises.
Eagle
Established Member
They might if Virgin don't, but there's no way they'd bid against Virgin (i.e. themselves).
TrainBoy98
Member
And we all know Virgin will bid.
3141
Established Member
MTR's expertise is in metro systems. I can't see them bidding for a very long distance franchise.
TrainBoy98
Member
They might want to extend their expertise and horizons
And Intercity East Coast is not the franchise to do that with...
Although to be fair you could say the same about most TOCs when they first won a franchise
Although to be fair you could say the same about most TOCs when they first won a franchise
True but now that the industry has some companies with a proven track record of operating a franchise like this I don't think MTR would do well to try and jump in the deep end with ICEC. GA strike me as the kind of franchise that MTR could consider going for if they wanted to move onto the longer-distance franchises.
Now that I've said that they'll bid, win and we'll be ranting and raving about how good they are for the next fifteen years
tbtc
Veteran Member
To try to get this discussion back on track, I should say that its good to have a "new" bidder and an "upmarket" bidder, in the shape of Eurostar - whilst I appreciate that they are basically just a different branch of the same organisation as Keolis, they are one of the few travel brands that could "excite" the Great British Public (and aren't known for running buses/ emptying bins/ operating prisons).
Given the lack of variety in some recent tenders, its good to see Eurostar want to be involved (though obviously any new bidder can be dismissed by enthusiasts along the lines of "the only reason new people are interested in bidding are the sky high profits") - given the way that Sea Containers presented GNER as an upmarket operation.
Given the lack of variety in some recent tenders, its good to see Eurostar want to be involved (though obviously any new bidder can be dismissed by enthusiasts along the lines of "the only reason new people are interested in bidding are the sky high profits") - given the way that Sea Containers presented GNER as an upmarket operation.
True but now that the industry has some companies with a proven track record of operating a franchise like this I don't think MTR would do well to try and jump in the deep end with ICEC. GA strike me as the kind of franchise that MTR could consider going for if they wanted to move onto the longer-distance franchises.
Now that I've said that they'll bid, win and we'll be ranting and raving about how good they are for the next fifteen years
You're right, there are but as a business do we only want to have the merry go round go to just a few big companies? Especially ones that may not have a good track record on other franchises they have had in the past?
To be honest, theres not a lot you have to do with ICEC really, few more staff and blah blah blah as it generally runs itself. What may hold them back from it is their knowledge of the UK rail industry as it stands( I cant remember if they have a stake in any other TOC) which is why a partnership would be good for them.
Eagle
Established Member
50% of LOROL, shared with Arriva (formerly DB Regio). Although that's blurring the lines between franchisee and concessionaire.
MTR also bid for the Southeastern and London Midland franchises, but lost both to Govia.
Ah if we're talking about partnership working then I don't see why they shouldn't go for it. My concern was for MTR trying to go it alone.
Tetchytyke
Veteran Member
Although to be fair you could say the same about most TOCs when they first won a franchise
True.
Sea Containers did a fine job with GNER, and their previous experience was shipping at Felixstowe.
LOROL is a concession. The franchise holder is TfL.
3141
Established Member
MTR was also in a joint bid with Sea Containers for the south western franchise in 2006. At a late stage the new CEO of Sea Containers decided not to proceed with the bid, much to the disappointment of Christopher Garnett of GNER. MTR decided to proceed alone. Then National Express, who had pre-qualified but later decided to withdraw, re-entered the bidding in partnership with MTR. Of course they didn't win, because Stagecoach put in a very high bid, being desperate to keep the franchise. MTR commented that to win a rail franchise seemed to require an unrealistic bid, but evidently they decided that it would be worth bidding with Chiltern for the LOROL concession.
dannypye9999
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I don't think Richard Branson will win, he lost the recent XC bid then lost the WC bid
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
MTR is shortlisted for both the Essex Thameside and TSGN franchises for which bidding has just started.
I don't think anyone won the WC bid - but his company's still running it.
And the XC bid wasn't exactly recent...
43074
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And with the WCML bid it was the DfT who messed up, not Virgin.
Whether he wins or not will come down purely to the content of the bid, or at least it bloody well ought to!
There should be NO way that he wins because of who he is, or because the DfT feel they should somehow let Virgin have it as compensation.
Nor should the bid be rejected as a way of revenge.
I don't envy the DfT on this one. They're going to get it in the neck whatever the outcome.
It kinda serves them right for messing up the first time.
So if someone messes up they should be criticised for everything else they do, even if it's right?
Seems rather cruel as well as not encouraging people to improve (why bother if they're going to get it in the neck anyway).
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