Southwestern swt franchise

[tgrb]

Hi All

Does anyone know what's happening with the announcement for the renewal, on the dft website it's says February.......

 

[theironroad]

Announcement has been delayed until April.

 

[swt_passenger]

Announcement has been delayed until April.

As per the current franchising timetable. I expect there is other out of date info around, you cant rely on them being thorough with anything...

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...792/december-2016-rail-franchise-schedule.pdf

 

[The Ham]

From the SWT's rolling stock thread:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=139131

Do we know roughly when in April the announcement will be made?

On April 1st it will be announced the new franchisee will be replacing all the DMUs with Northern's cast-off Pacers.

 

[HH]

No Pacers, but I hear there will be a Rolling Stock announcement that will surprise, and possibly delight, some members of these forums...

April is about as precise as it's likely to get at this point. There'll be lots of lawyering going on.

 

[Bletchleyite]

A number between 441 and 443?

 

[HH]

I couldn't possibly comment.

 

[DerekC]

No Pacers, but I hear there will be a Rolling Stock announcement that will surprise, and possibly delight, some members of these forums...

Doesn't that depend on who wins?

 

[pompeyfan]

It's been done to death but I'll bite. The problem on the SWML isn't lack of rolling stock, it's lack of paths/capacity. There is simply too many trains going into Waterloo that means that if one is late, they're all late. Other than adding extra lines in there isn't a way around it.

 

[HH]

Doesn't that depend on who wins?

The announcement is to be made next month. Of course the fat lady hasn't sung yet, but it would be strange if the winner hadn't already been decided.

 

[JaJaWa]

Existing thread is here: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=123105

 

[HH]

It's been done to death but I'll bite. The problem on the SWML isn't lack of rolling stock, it's lack of paths/capacity. There is simply too many trains going into Waterloo that means that if one is late, they're all late. Other than adding extra lines in there isn't a way around it.

Speed up the trains and you can fit more in. They are already increasing platform lengths to allow longer trains, which is another way to increase capacity.

 

[swt_passenger]

Speed up the trains and you can fit more in.

Really?

I think you'll find on the real railway if you speed up the trains they'll need longer headways, and the capacity will actually be reduced.

 

[Matt Taylor]

April 20th is the date I've been told from management. Subject to change of course.

 

[Joe Paxton]

People are gonna get in a right old state when it's announced First has won this.