GWR & SWR to run current timetable until May next year

[whole diary]

[RichardB]

Here's Mark Hopwood's e-mail, sent out this morning -

"You may have seen Monday’s media release by the Rail Delivery Group, confirming that timetable changes for December 18 have been postponed.  This includes GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) timetable plans.

This is very disappointing news for customers. However, it is important that everyone is confident in the industry’s ability to deliver on timetable improvements as important as these, and although the delivery of trains and crew remains on track, it is clear from Network Rail’s recent review that there is some nervousness about the ability of the industry to deliver the new timetable in December 2018.

Given that position, we understand why Andrew Haines, new CEO^▸ (Chief Executive Officer) of Network Rail, has recommended holding off key aspects of the December 2018 timetable change to protect day to day journeys for customers.

Changes to track layout and depot access in December will mean the current GWR timetable cannot simply be extended, and some work to re-write timetables will be needed. We will be working with Network Rail to make sure both our planning team, and theirs, have the support and resource required to ensure a smooth transition for some changes in December, with a view to May 2019 for the main timetable recast.

While timetable changes are pushed back, we will continue to deliver the improvements promised customers from early 2019, like the continued roll out of the Intercity Express Trains – which are more reliable and have around 20% more seats than the High Speed Trains they replace. However, it is the timetable change that brings faster journeys and frequency improvements and it is these additional benefits that will be delayed.

We will be keeping in close contact with Network Rail and will keep you updated as things progress."

[devonexpress]

This might be very bad news for SWR^» (South Western Railway - about).

The new franchise was costed on an increase in services in December 2018. If the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) don't compensate FirstGroup/MTR then the already (rumoured) shaky financial predicament the franchise is in could be exacerbated.

Stagecoach/Virgin East Coast blamed Network Rail (so, by proxy blaming the Govt) for their financial predicament after being supposedly unable to introduce more services. They then defaulted when the government refused any sort of bailout.

It's quite feasible the same could happen to SWR.

Half the problem with a disintegrated railway, hopefully the new plan of TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s running track and trains might help, but full privatisation is the best answer.

[ellendune]

Half the problem with a disintegrated railway, hopefully the new plan of TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s running track and trains might help, but full privatisation is the best answer.

I can see arguments that vertical integration could help, but full privatisation?   That seems to me more a matter of political or economic dogma. 

There is the argument that the government is doing so badly let the private sector take over, but then given the mind set of our government some will argue that they are doing so badly in order to give them an excuse privitise the whole thing. 

But then they couldn't keep their hands off it when it was privitised.