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Scotrail Franchise - Abellio

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Altnabreac

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Echoing what others have said, I thought First had done a reasonable job, but if it isn't First then Abellio seem a decent operator so I'm cautiously optimistic.

Looking forward to seeing more details from the bid tomorrow.
 

HawkeyeTheNoo

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Ah well I guess I won't be working for Scotrail then. I have passed a few stages for a job with them and was told the job was on hold at the moment but they would let me know when I would be going on to the next stage! I guess it was on hold because of the franchise decision. That'll be that then ! :(
 

GaryMcEwan

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Ah well I guess I won't be working for Scotrail then. I have passed a few stages for a job with them and was told the job was on hold at the moment but they would let me know when I would be going on to the next stage! I guess it was on hold because of the franchise decision. That'll be that then ! :(

Never say never, First have still got until 2015 before they lose it...
 

Hardcastle

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I was thinking that pacers to Scotland for the Borders line i hope not. But I hope they invest more than they have with Northern the worst rolling stock going.
 

PaxVobiscum

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Like many others, I thought First had done quite a decent job on this franchise - but I suppose it's about the future, not the past.

I wonder when First will give their "Goodbye and thanks for all the fish" statement in the wee on-train mag?
 

NotATrainspott

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I was thinking that pacers to Scotland for the Borders line i hope not. But I hope they invest more than they have with Northern the worst rolling stock going.

The SQUIRE system ensures that the ScotRail franchise is kept to a far better standard than comparable franchises in England. This is one of the main reasons that a move to have Rail North control or have a major say in the Northern and TransPennine franchises is so important. People who work at the DfT will use every franchise that serves London, which is everyone but ScotRail, Arriva Trains Wales, Northern, TransPennine and CrossCountry. ScotRail is now under the control of Transport Scotland, Arriva Trains Wales under the Welsh Government but the others have to deal with being controlled by people who will never need to use their services for their day-to-day lives. There's no fundamental reason why the same quality standards couldn't be imposed upon the other regional franchises other than political will.
 

Bodiddly

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And the BBC clearly know so much about Scotrail that they have a photo of First Capital Connect carriages in the article.

That's a bit naughty of the beeb, some might say they are a bit biased towards London. :roll:
 

ainsworth74

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In an article talking about First Group they used a picture showing trains in plain First Group livery with no branding visible. Seems perfectly fine for a media organisation who are not rail specialists...

I'll happily join in the criticism when the BBC do use a spectacularly poor image (such as the 121 on a preserved line on an article about the infrastructure improvements announced in a budget). This, however, feels like nitpicking.
 

overthewater

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http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/oct/07/rmt-union-scotrail-franchise

A union has reacted angrily to reports that a Dutch firm will be awarded the next £2.5bn ScotRail franchise.

Current operator FirstGroup is expected to lose the franchise to Abellio, an offshoot of Dutch national railways.

The contract is to run most of Scotland’s trains for the next decade from April 2015. FirstGroup was said to have been among five shortlisted bidders for the deal, the Scotsman reported.

Neither Transport Scotland nor ScotRail would comment on the reports but Scottish transport minister Keith Brown is due to announce a “major Scottish transport development” on Wednesday.

Rail union RMT reacted furiously, saying it represented a missed opportunity to bring the franchise back into public ownership. Union bosses described it as a “disgraceful and shameful betrayal of the Scottish people”.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “It is scandalous that just a few weeks after the referendum, and promises from all quarters that the Scottish people would have an increased say in every aspect of their lives, that the continued privatisation of Scotland’s railways has been bulldozed through with the SNP colluding with the political elite in Westminster to deny the opportunity for this franchise to be brought back into public ownership.

“There is no question that this whole franchising process could and should have been halted, pending the ratification of the post-referendum devolution settlement, instead of rushing headlong into a deal that will deny the Scottish people ownership and control of their railways for many years to come.

“Scotland could have taken control of its own railways, instead they have opted to go Dutch, meaning that profits will be sucked out of the system to underpin investment and fares in Holland.”

Remember the Scottish Greens had a nice evening get together with this company, and only this company.....
 

Bodie

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It does indeed seem that First have lost the Scotrail franchise.

I think they have done a very good job over the last ten years.

I don't like the whole franchise way of running a railway, so i'm somewhat biased when it comes to changes like this.

I will miss First Scotrail. At least they are British, were as now Scotrail with be pretty much a sub section of Dutch State Railways.

Just been last week to Edinburgh for a few days. First a British company was in plentiful supply. Now only the 350's operated by First Transpennie will be there, in a sea of Dutch and German state owned stock.
Even then it's only 55% British.

These foreigners are getting more brazen by the day.
The Crosscountry 220's now have 'Part of Arriva - A DB company' writ along the top of the outside of the carriages.

Then I saw 67029 in the bay in bright silver with many giant 'DB' logos all over it.

Non railway interested folk would be no doubt amazed to learn that the 'DB' stands for 'Deutsche Bahn'

On my travels to Edinburgh I was able to sample the new wifi service. Best i've yet used on the railways. A grand job done by all.
Let's hope the new franchise keeps it free for all.
I know the wifi is a requirement of the new franchise but is it also a requirement to offer the free wifi to both first and second class passengers???

Also, even though it is something that came out last year, i've only just heard of the requirement on the new franchise to run 'Tourist trains'.

Can't find anything specific as to the lines that may be outlined for this.
Are there any yet, or it just a broad suggestion?

I really hope the Kyle line can get a tourist train. Scary thought is, I have been dreaming of just such a train. Never thought anything short of me gaining the reins of power would bring it about! :D
Common sense in government, what next?!

There are many folk who go to Kyle on the train just for the journey.
Sure a tourist train would kill the railtours off.
That's the only downside from this end I can see. However any lost business from the railtours would be i'm sure met by the new tourist train.
Look at how successful the Jacobite is.

Like the Jacobite, any new tourist train anywhere, not just the Kyle line, must be steam hauled.
I really do think the new franchise holder should run a summer only tourist train, replacing the 1058 dep from Inverness.
This free's up a 158.
Steam hauled, with observation car at rear.

If the new franchise is indeed going to Abellio please don't have announcements that say 'Abellio Scotrail'
Was down at Liverpool Street the other week and oh lordy what a mouthful 'Abellio Greater Anglia' is!
I know it's one word longer but still. Abellio, stupid anyway. No matter how good someone is at saying it, it still sounds like their speaking gibberish.
At least First is a word in the English language.
 
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WatcherZero

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So then likewise you object that Arriva (before the takeover a British company) was operating franchise services abroad or that Network Rail is making money from providing engineering consultancy services to foreign railway operators? Heck Virgin Rail was even hired by the US Government to advise it on possible privatisation of Amtrak.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Abellio issued a contract notice for up to 400 new carriages:http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG152580

I'm looking forward to seeing their rolling stock proposals.

Yeah the interesting thing is it specifically specifies new rolling stock rather than allowing existing stock to be bid (nevermind if there is stock available or not, usually the language leaves open the possibility).

£100m to £600m contract value (maintenence supply is an option which partly accounts for the wide range), contract length 11 years with first train having to be available from 1st April 2016 (thats pretty tight tendering and construction deadline). They of course could choose not to use any of the bids they recieved to inform their franchise bid and instead retender with later introduction.
 
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bnm

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I will miss First Scotrail. At least they are British

First Group is a PLC, therefore owned by shareholders. Take a look at the major shareholders and you will see many foreign holders of the stock. The largest shareholder is a Chinese bank, followed by an off-shore institution based on the Isle of Man.

At least First is a word in the English language.

The etymology of the word first has derivation from High German/Saxon, Danish and Norse languages, just like most of the English language.
 

SpacePhoenix

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Will Abellio be allowed to change the livery of the Scotrail trains, if they are any guesses as to what they might go for?
 

SkinnyDave

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Will Abellio be allowed to change the livery of the Scotrail trains, if they are any guesses as to what they might go for?

No it will remain the Saltire livery the point of it was that it remains the same with only the company name changing on them
 

MCR247

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It does indeed seem that First have lost the Scotrail franchise.

I think they have done a very good job over the last ten years.

I don't like the whole franchise way of running a railway, so i'm somewhat biased when it comes to changes like this.

I will miss First Scotrail. At least they are British, were as now Scotrail with be pretty much a sub section of Dutch State Railways.

Just been last week to Edinburgh for a few days. First a British company was in plentiful supply. Now only the 350's operated by First Transpennie will be there, in a sea of Dutch and German state owned stock.
Even then it's only 55% British.

These foreigners are getting more brazen by the day.
The Crosscountry 220's now have 'Part of Arriva - A DB company' writ along the top of the outside of the carriages.

Then I saw 67029 in the bay in bright silver with many giant 'DB' logos all over it.

Non railway interested folk would be no doubt amazed to learn that the 'DB' stands for 'Deutsche Bahn'
--
...other week and oh lordy what a mouthful 'Abellio Greater Anglia' is!
I know it's one word longer but still. Abellio, stupid anyway. No matter how good someone is at saying it, it still sounds like their speaking gibberish.
At least First is a word in the English language.

I hope you realise that you sound absolutely pathetic :roll:
 

TUC

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In an article talking about First Group they used a picture showing trains in plain First Group livery with no branding visible. Seems perfectly fine for a media organisation who are not rail specialists...

I'll happily join in the criticism when the BBC do use a spectacularly poor image (such as the 121 on a preserved line on an article about the infrastructure improvements announced in a budget). This, however, feels like nitpicking.
The point is that, in a time when there is so much focus on organisations like the BBC being London-focussed and unaware of Scottish issues, to be apparently unaware that First's livery in Scotland is different is unfortunate.

Interesting to note that someone must picked this up in the BBC as well http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29531099
 

LNW-GW Joint

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Was down at Liverpool Street the other week and oh lordy what a mouthful 'Abellio Greater Anglia' is!
I know it's one word longer but still. Abellio, stupid anyway. No matter how good someone is at saying it, it still sounds like their speaking gibberish.

From the Abellio Deutschland Wiki entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abellio_Deutschland
It does have some British roots.

Abellio Deutschland was formed by the Essen public transit company in association with the British investment company Star Capital Partners, which owned 75% of Abellio.
In 2008, both parent companies sold their shares to NedRailways, the international expansion arm of Nederlandse Spoorwegen. All NedRailways companies are now branded as Abellio

It's also the name of a Celtic god: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abellio
Brand names of an indeterminate classical nature are very much in vogue in the marketing community.
They are memorable, but are unlikely to clash with other people's trade marks.
 
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