WatcherZero
Established Member
- Joined
- 25 Feb 2010
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TfGM, West Yorkshire PTE and South Yorkshire PTE have got together and agreed a framework for the rail refranching (with ongoing input from the dft), they are now going to consult Merseryside, Lancashire and Nexus on their plan then take it to Government for approval. Likely some forum members here may not like the way this is going to work...
* Firstly merge TPE and Northern into one franchise.
* TfGM, WYPTE+York and SYPTE with the majority of services passing through their areas would be senior partners (Core and Founding are used) in the governance of the franchise while the other authorities in the north would be junior partners.
* So they can speak with one voice and quickly propose stuff a formula for risk and cost allocation between the partners will be in place from the start. Each of the Core/Founding members agrees to take on a proportional share of the funding and liability of the franchise underwriting.
* The Franchise will cover 19 unitaries, 9 shires, 5 PTEs and Scotland, because not all will have capability to provide the same financial or planning contribution as the big three they wont be required to, instead there will be a two tier body with the senior partners who are willing to underwrite the franchise and the juniors who will express their desires and concerns or may be willing to contribute financially to particular schemes.
* Will be governed by a board with the following makeup, an independent chair appointed by the founding partners, the core members (including founding members) who would each have voting rights equal to the number of services in their area. Non voting members selected by the junior partners who havent assumed financial commitments and a minority dft vote.
* Propose a 7 year franchise with 3 year extension, this is because next few years will see a big shakeup and to allow governance arrangements to bed in. A longer franchise of around 15 years may be let afterwards once their happy with the setup.
* The Dft doesnt want to have to represent the smaller authorities in the franchise area on the board and want a hands off role, they are considering hiving off a small number of routes to other franchises which are not physically or economically relevant to the core members.
* The board would set a long term strategy and control planning and franchise specification including outside their geographic area (subject to consulting the local authorities concerned) as well as monitoring the incumbent franchise.
* Again two tier system, the core members and those voluntarily wishing to put their money where their mouth is who would have to demonstrate competence in transport planning and economic planning before they can recieve voting rights.
* Since the Northern franchise is heavily subsidised the government funding for the board to invest and subsidise services is equal to that the Dft would have provided if it was solely in charge.
* The board may borrow to invest to get services improved faster and Government has agreed to consider funding some infrastructure investments which reduce the upkeep cost of the railway.
* What their looking at investment wise is additional rolling stock, Northern Hub and further improvements leading on from it, multimodal smart ticketing across the whole franchise area, replacement of life expired rolling stock, refurbishment of rolling stock, station improvements such as parking, ticketing/retail, passenger security, service information. More station adoption schemes, more electrification, possible tram-train schemes.
http://www.agma.gov.uk/cms_media/files/8_devolution_of_rail_re_franchising_in_north_of_england.pdf
And you may find these maps useful...
http://www.projectmapping.co.uk/Reviews/Resources/Northern network_map_jan_20.pdf
http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/media/47408/map_geo_oct2011_continuing.pdf
Anyone able to work out approximatly the voting share TfGM, WYPTE+York and SYPTE would each have?
* Firstly merge TPE and Northern into one franchise.
* TfGM, WYPTE+York and SYPTE with the majority of services passing through their areas would be senior partners (Core and Founding are used) in the governance of the franchise while the other authorities in the north would be junior partners.
* So they can speak with one voice and quickly propose stuff a formula for risk and cost allocation between the partners will be in place from the start. Each of the Core/Founding members agrees to take on a proportional share of the funding and liability of the franchise underwriting.
* The Franchise will cover 19 unitaries, 9 shires, 5 PTEs and Scotland, because not all will have capability to provide the same financial or planning contribution as the big three they wont be required to, instead there will be a two tier body with the senior partners who are willing to underwrite the franchise and the juniors who will express their desires and concerns or may be willing to contribute financially to particular schemes.
* Will be governed by a board with the following makeup, an independent chair appointed by the founding partners, the core members (including founding members) who would each have voting rights equal to the number of services in their area. Non voting members selected by the junior partners who havent assumed financial commitments and a minority dft vote.
* Propose a 7 year franchise with 3 year extension, this is because next few years will see a big shakeup and to allow governance arrangements to bed in. A longer franchise of around 15 years may be let afterwards once their happy with the setup.
* The Dft doesnt want to have to represent the smaller authorities in the franchise area on the board and want a hands off role, they are considering hiving off a small number of routes to other franchises which are not physically or economically relevant to the core members.
* The board would set a long term strategy and control planning and franchise specification including outside their geographic area (subject to consulting the local authorities concerned) as well as monitoring the incumbent franchise.
* Again two tier system, the core members and those voluntarily wishing to put their money where their mouth is who would have to demonstrate competence in transport planning and economic planning before they can recieve voting rights.
* Since the Northern franchise is heavily subsidised the government funding for the board to invest and subsidise services is equal to that the Dft would have provided if it was solely in charge.
* The board may borrow to invest to get services improved faster and Government has agreed to consider funding some infrastructure investments which reduce the upkeep cost of the railway.
* What their looking at investment wise is additional rolling stock, Northern Hub and further improvements leading on from it, multimodal smart ticketing across the whole franchise area, replacement of life expired rolling stock, refurbishment of rolling stock, station improvements such as parking, ticketing/retail, passenger security, service information. More station adoption schemes, more electrification, possible tram-train schemes.
http://www.agma.gov.uk/cms_media/files/8_devolution_of_rail_re_franchising_in_north_of_england.pdf
And you may find these maps useful...
http://www.projectmapping.co.uk/Reviews/Resources/Northern network_map_jan_20.pdf
http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/media/47408/map_geo_oct2011_continuing.pdf
Anyone able to work out approximatly the voting share TfGM, WYPTE+York and SYPTE would each have?
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