Because doing so would be illegal under EU competition law.
And people in deepest Brexiteer Kent said EU law never helped them...
Because doing so would be illegal under EU competition law.
Because doing so would be illegal under EU competition law.
Thinking about it 2tph into each platform which is all I'm proposing will be very achievable because the intended turn around time would be between 15/20 minutes before it returns on the same route, or even shorter if the Ramsgate service then turned into a Dover or Faversham service meaning turnarounds could be shortened even further if required to free up platform space (I don't see the need for it but its an option)Do HS1 and St Pancras have the capacity to run more trains than at present?
I've been up the front of a Javelin and there is much more than just a software build. There appears to be some significant hardware involved. No doubt the gubbins are also quite extensive.
I'm not genned up with rolling stock so I'd ask the experts how easy would it be to order/extend the 395 fleet ? Wouldn't that be a significant increase in cost for any new Franchisee ? Surely its better to change the Metro fleet (potentially 707s) and then cascade stock internally. I'm with class 170101, in that HS1 could become more independent from the SE network (no increase in stock needed) and that a new Metro fleet means they can reshuffle the SE fleet.
Personally I would like to see an entire fleet replacement and that SE moves towards a more unified fleet (like GTR) with a single traction (HS1 excluded). Dump Networks and Electrostars. Little bit of a pipe dream I know.
Yup, you are absolutely rightThat's right, although the numerous extensions are themselves on the very edge of legality.
SE extension confirmed to 10th a November, with option to 1st April 2020.
Southeastern has today (13th June 2019) announced an improved compensation scheme will be introduced as part of a suite of passenger-focused improvements to be rolled out by the Autumn.
‘Delay Repay 15’ will mean passengers delayed by 15 minutes or more will receive money back to compensate them for the inconvenience, where currently compensation applies for delays over 30 minutes.
Delay Repay 15 was always going to be introduced as part of the next South Eastern franchise. This announcement means that passengers will get the benefit sooner.
David Statham, Southeastern's Managing Director, said:
“I don’t want any of our passengers to be delayed, but if they are it’s really important that we compensate them properly.That’s why I’m delighted to announce these improvements to Delay Repay, which will make a real difference for people who experience shorter delays of between 15 and 30 minutes.
“We’re also launching an upgraded website so claims can be submitted in half the time, enhancing ‘The Key’ smart ticket system alongside a new ‘Best Fare Finder’, and expanding our award-winning Customer Ambassador programme.”
Southeastern has committed to making the process of claiming compensation quicker and easier. It will also launch a website upgrade that will cut the number of steps needed to complete the online form, by using information on previous claims and regular journeys.
The Key smart ticket system will also be enhanced, with single and return tickets available to purchase online for the first time. And a new ‘Best Fare Finder’ will be launched on the Southeastern website to help passengers get the best value tickets for their journey.
These improvements are part of a short-term extension to the current Southeastern franchise, which has been agreed following the announcement by the Secretary of State for Transport on 10 April. Southeastern will continue to operate services until 10 November 2019, with an option to extend to 1 April 2020, allowing the Government more time to review and award a winner for the next South Eastern franchise.
The DfT has got itself into a deep hole here. Govia obviously won't invest much into a franchise that it may not be running after November, or after next April. If the DfT wanted to order new trains it would surely have to publish a notice inviting tenders, the winner might not be what the eventual winner of the franchise would have ordered, and the trains wouldn't arrive till late next year or more probably in 2021. Or if the DfT instead planned to bring in stock that's going to be displaced (such as 458s or 707s) they too might not be what the eventual franchise winner would choose, they are unlikely to be available in time (unless there's at least one more extension after next April), drivers and fitters would have to be trained (an expense that the present franchise holder wouldn't want to undertake if they might no longer be running the show), and anyway there aren't enough sidings to park them. On top of that, the two remaining bids for South Eastern are now several months old and would have to be renegotiated before an award could be made.
According to some contacts of mine who work there, the news of this latest extension has been badly received internally. Morale at SE metro driver depots is apparently not good, and getting worse. Other TOCs in the area offer better work, or better pay/conditions or both in some cases! SE pay is now far behind where it should be, with no new deal likely for another year.
Those drivers who can are leaving in droves, either to SE mainline depots for better work, or to other TOCs, with many currently working their notice periods. One metro depot in particular recently suffered a recent mass defection of almost 1/3 of its drivers and is now well under establishment, with much of its work having to be cross covered by other depots.
Those not looking to leave are often trapped by poor safety records - in part because of variable instructor quality. DIs range from fantastic to some who are completely wrong for the role, and doing it for the wrong reasons. This is because few drivers are willing to instruct given the poor additional pay for a great deal more risk and hassle.
Of course these issues are by no means unique to SE but, from what I’ve been told, this succession of short franchise extensions comes at a very bad time.
You've only got to look at how many drivers expressed an interest in working for GTR when the flyers appeared. It was like Black Friday!
A twilight zone version of Black Friday, where the store actively turns away its most desperate shoppers .
According to some contacts of mine who work there, the news of this latest extension has been badly received internally. Morale at SE metro driver depots is apparently not good, and getting worse. Other TOCs in the area offer better work, or better pay/conditions or both in some cases! SE pay is now far behind where it should be, with no new deal likely for another year.
Those drivers who can are leaving in droves, either to SE mainline depots for better work, or to other TOCs, with many currently working their notice periods. One metro depot in particular recently suffered a recent mass defection of almost 1/3 of its drivers and is now well under establishment, with much of its work having to be cross covered by other depots.
Those not looking to leave are often trapped by poor safety records - in part because of variable instructor quality. DIs range from fantastic to some who are completely wrong for the role, and doing it for the wrong reasons. This is because few drivers are willing to instruct given the poor additional pay for a great deal more risk and hassle.
Of course these issues are by no means unique to SE but, from what I’ve been told, this succession of short franchise extensions comes at a very bad time.
Don't tease us like that!South Eastern announce new rolling stock procurement:
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/whitstable/news/steam-engine-makes-long-awaited-return-206712/
The extension will be called. There will be no new rolling stock. DfT are now paranoid about legal challenges, so everything has to go through the lawyers and 7 tiers of (mis)management, so the wheels are grinding exceedingly slowly.
BTW LSER drivers are not so badly paid, unless you compare them to GTR - unfortunately they live next door and drive some of the same trains.
Out of interest what is OLR?It may well do; but it may well also now be strongly reconsidering some elements of rolling stock policy according to other people such as to need a re-think for a few bidders. We may yet have to go to OLR again.
Out of interest what is OLR?
The Operator of Last Resort, a consortium appointed by the DfT to ensure continuity of service in the event of franchise terminations before a new competition can be held.Out of interest what is OLR?
They are still working on SE bids and have been throughout.If the west coast franchise is announced this week as that thread is predicting, does that mean that the DFT will now go back to work on the SE bids?