Great Western Coffee Shop

Is there any point consulting on a future franchise when it seems that FirstGroup are just going to keep getting extensions to the current one?

Steve, Matt, Mike, NR, Peter

Transport for Greater Bristol, FoSBR, Severnside

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Presentation

14% seacons  31% full fares 54% reduced
228 train sets

changes - last bullet "investment n the wide comunity"
* New service pattern - London and SW peninsular

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for Transport Focus

Slides avaialble if interested
Note differenr shape curves for satisfaction for service groups
   ** could be used as split arg by DfT?
punctaulity and information are key

Passengers expect "on time" to mean it! / PPM 5 or 10 mins
move towards passenger objectives

Unplanned disrup - INFORMATION wanted / accurate and timely
planned - T12 obligation
Diverted trains rather than buses

Passengrs keen to see ONE perso in charge

TF wants - core product delivery.
- Focus on customer expereicne (DfT comment - specific groups / luggage, diablesd etc to be considerd)

Build personaised relationsip / communications to individual needs

QN - overcrowdings [missing from presentation] and its influence on above.
From DfT - clearly a massive problam and makes for an opportunity in Bristol
Should start seeing it better.
PW - SoS - 2012 objectives faster, capacity. Huge minister objective

QN - why not a financial penalty on Passenger Charter miss / 1/3 fare back?
Has not been met any week in 10 years

DO £6.8m paid out annually already. Delay repay in discussion. Qn is overcrowding
QN - "New trains won't fix"
DO - these issues need to come out. Where pressure points will be
QN - franchise says 2 coaches.  To be fair to GW - gone up to 5.

DfT - present cacade does some - is it enough?

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Exisitig operator to 2022
Should we split
Integrate track and train

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Continue consultation
- to direct through next few years
- maximise benefirts for next franchise
Coninuted must deliver forpassengers
Keep option of revert to comeptiton if no continuation can be agreed

"Very interest" in VIEWS on split - is split, is it the right split?
In and out elements.  "Occasional" Brighton services - better homed elsewhere / Southern?
- with trains released to GW?

Split
- NOT a Devon and Cornwall. Heard clearly!
- NOT decisde on
- learned to keep branches with main ine
- avoid complexity of complexity orf multiple operators at London termini
- potential tuning for local use
- poential more bidders
- need to ensure co-ordianeion, complexity, operational resilience

* QN - What about WoE running their own services?
DfT - can take qn away
QN - Mayor not here today - but not showing underground on map.
DR - local devolution WOULD be better than splitting the franchise
need a political buy in; DfT should not be relied upon.  need business units?
DfT - We are keen to see MetroWest developing
JW - Metrowest will be at the heart of the response

QN - hard to answer without knowing services are. e.g. intercity used for commuter flow
Think it will make it difficult with limited interaction.   Such spaghetti that huge
risk of unintended consequences.
DfT - could be different business units within same franchise?
Can see why that could be quite attractive; COULD be a step to evolution
Council advisor - don't care who runs it. One ticket, connections.
Even with current capacity better, still problems in future.
Through trains - e.g. Portishead to London and doesn't work cross franchise.
~Could help local capacity

QN - (DR) Arena - Filton or Centre - need IET to handle loacl as well as long distance

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Integrate track and train
In 2 years can only step

Role for franchisee including enhancements

QN - does an integrated unit deal with long term infrastructire management
Needs long term work; not being looked after at present
DfT - not easy over just 2 years
DfT - it IS important to maintain over all.
PW - This franchise will NOT change rail structure. Important - issue recongised
QN - shoddy job of Portbury line has caused new problems

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Timetable - see photo

How to respond - see photo

Please concentrate on FRANCHISE and not current problems

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QN - quality has gone down over 20 year. Would you be required to meet ATOC 2014 document?
   - would suggest that TOC will squeal and say no.
DfT - clearly ask what's important

DR - Disability - getting stations up and accessible.  Worried about shorttermism
Worried how it fits in on two year award. Thinks will stop.
Also security and policing.  CCTV .  Should not be left to First Group to provide.
Question / new franchise - strange date in relation to 2022 election. So 2024 better.
DfT ... we absolutley take point on long term view and staging
Although ops for small number years ARE developing beyond
DR - don't want to loose impetus

JS - Continued operation to Portsmouth / consideration of Brighton
DfT - Abslutely NO intent to continue Portsmouth; talk is purel brighton

QN - Rolling stock "very ancient" but is dire need for new(er) stock.  Knock on effect on
productivity / trains breaking down
DfT - please input. Very much aware. Problem not necessaily relating to age. (e.g. HST popular)
Unlikely that new stock specified in 3 years
BUT options on improving current stock in frachinse

QN - observation - best I've heard that DfT are looking well ahead
- consistent lack of aniticpation of rate of growth.  Note housing grown in WoE
DfT - struck with extra housing.
QN - Severn Beach longer trains already filled.

QN - Always more demand than can be safified.  Expect 30 minute, then 5 car, then more frequent
- need to redual some tracks. (SVB, WSM)
- We want to see 20 minutes ... may as well make 15 minute.  Then turn up and go.
- Current rail passenger counts low.
- In time, rail will need Henbury Loop not spur.
* DfT - "You're preaching to the converted"
PW - CP lead time is 3 years. CP7 planning starts 2021, estimated needed by 2021. Think NOW
QN - People want a cup of coffee at the station; would like accessabily before I need it

QN - Note other franchsies interate buses
QN - Not in franchise - no way to work with freight operators on same track.
DfT - important point / opportunity for conversation
QN - planning for future depots
DfT - problem is because no contractual organisaion

KW - Emphasis on money in current GWR for rebuilding of InterCity Stations.
New franchise needs a pot for local station. We can try but needs proper consideration.

CB (FoSBR) - frustrated an no-one taking long term vision.  Need one stop shop.
- desparate need rail to have higher capacity. Already there / separate from road
- who will convene expertise / franchise to franchise loop.
- Some of us think community rail
- WECA not taking ownneship - nor Bristol City
Dft - Political points above my head.
- Let's just look at the 2 year / 4 year award and not redo the whole system!
- But that may be part of the journey .. so be thinking further ahead.
DR - we need to help WECA (and bring in North Somerset)
- turn back at Yate and Batheaston are bonkers.
- give it some rail strategy powers
Dft - Political not in here (stopped David with "can I answer please" ;-) )
DR - Airport involved?  Looking for real vision
- mind not made up as to how to do it
DfT - looking to get up there this afternoon

QN - GW are good at requesting extra stops.
Could new franchise ensure CURRENT full system continues (STJ)
DfT - Have highlighted

QN - Pilning - "fat lot of use" - eyesore.  Lovely catchment. New business.
- GWR will stop trains if a business case.
DR - also in Local Enterprise Zone
Dft - Please deliver case.   Need evidence for usage

DR - What about Temple Meads [rebuild] - make fit for purpose.
- Huge issues to LEP.  Lots of promises. Crying out for Govt. Money.
- I know outside frachinse BUT
DfT agreed - outside franchsine. Importan to thnk of whole area.
DR - constrain on network

QN - Valid Routes / Caldict
- where quicker than via "permitted route"
PW - not franchise

Smells about right to me ,I think that you have managed to cover just about everything from today's meeting only sorry that we didn't have a chance to catch-up as I was nabbed by the nice people from FoBSR.

Went along to the DfT public franchise consultation session this morning to observe (Bristol not being my area) and to learn a bit prior to the Trowbridge event.  As it's a public meeting I guess I can post up my notes here - please excuse the poor smell checking

Around 35 people / 2 from DfT (Matt and Steve), Nina (Transport Focus), Matt Barnes (GWR)

* Matt (DfT)

Format - half presentation, half Q&A, short time for 1 to 1

"Really big and diverse - makes it unique ... just about every service type"
Huge change over next couple of years.
Baseline 2020 will be quite difference from what you see today

* Nina Howe

About Transport forcus

Satisfaction on GWR gone down
46% Punctulity and reliability
then confort
then station environment

Priorities for improvement / relative importance
1. Prices
2. Get a seat
3. Train on time
4. No cancels and disruption
5. Frequent enough trains
6. Free WiFi

Stations
1. Toilets
2. Platform Seating
3. Free Wifi
4. Shelter

Right time not industry standard is key

Unplanned - need to be accurate

Planned - T-12 for informed traveller
- Diverted trains not buses
- Support on ground on the day

Future shape
- TF tends not to ask about structure but
- want a joined up railway
- more concerned at quality than structure

Ambition to improve passenger experience
Restricted mobily
Good staff interaction, building customer relations.

** Matt

Plans ahead - asking (again!) about split of franchise

[repeat much from Bristol]

No decision on length from 2022 - typically 7 to 10 years
Consultation is about BOTH steps

No sense / appetite for starting process for franchise in 12 mos with all changes taking part
Also opportunity / 2 years is opportunity to end

This 2 year is NOT to be a holding period but look to benefits

Word NOT in "objectives" but should (have been/be) is connectivity.
Reassurance for Wiltshire in particular

Emphasis - split NOT a "done deal" [[ but my goodness the discussion is being pushed hard - looking
for supporters so they can say "we had x thousand supporters" ]].  DfT - note danger of non-profit routes not
being ignored.  Looking for more focus to particular markets if split.  Also bidder appetite.  Dft selling
the idea of split (but not the benefits of staying together!)

But "lessons of 10 - 15 years ago" - clearly some beneifits of being together.  Diversion routes and resillince lost

Track and Train integration - NR and TOC on modest enhancements

What CAN be delivered, 2020 to 2022?
But other things beyond - FOR EXAMPLE if Infrastructure things, and future of older diesel stock

Note - some ongoing work already on digesting expected responses
- deliverable?
- accomodated on Network?
- value for money?
- strategic?
Not just numerical analysis but above

Unusually long prep time - Dec '18 to April '20
"Expect" 2022 long term franchise take over

Best response online.
1. Form
2. ms doc
3. email
4. post
Clear, as concise as possible. Solutions not problems.  Supporting evidence.
Make sure you say where you agree and where you disagee [[ agree and examples ;-) ]]

Floor -----

PJ for Nina - background for data
Problem with data - 65% to 70% London commuters, but 14% tickets are seasons
No connection questions in survey; does not reflect our world.  We suffer long delays.
NH - Insight team can tell you about weighting to be representative
PJ - just 19 on TransWilts / zero at Chippenham
NH - Can't be as granual.   Will get back on split
MT - Bound to be some generallity

HP - to support Paul.  Hard to read.  Please send slide set
MT - email sides to all.

PaulB - re Frome and Westbury.  Will there be a serious renegotiation for 2020?
MT - Will be a new contract
Qn because other areas nothing added
A - this will be different; able to consult on this extension
PB - Improved long desitance, Westbury good service, Bristol to Frome - possible if whole area rationalised.
MT - points made. Real opportunity for WSB hub.

SHRUG (DF) - fully agree.  Looking for through services to WELL beyond Exeter
DfT - 2 hourly or more frequent
SHRUG - potential for day trips.   Also CDF-PMH overcrowding
DfT - Turbo most pracgamit way to provide CDF - PMH capacity.

Peter Lay - Devizes Parkway. Land 3 miles from town.
1. Build ecomoic arguments - hits objectives in franchise request. Support station from employers
Poor highway connectivity for town. Third party delivered scheme largely self financing & within 2022 franchise
BUT need services to stop and connectivity. With WSB and RDG and beyond.
MT - useful to hear.  You are pusing on open door.

Peter Pearson - Corsham
Franchise too much looking for EXISTING rail users
1 or 2 mins "almost insigniricnat".  Rail journeys have to be accessed by road at CPM and BTH
Total journey to station more important.
Negative unemployment. New Stations could make big difference.
[[ no comment on funding ... marked difference to Devizes case. ]]

JG - High speed at Devizes would be sensible
MT - Qn at RDG yesterday. BDW turn around is historic. Overall B&H in long distance dbcasue integratetion possible

GE Case / tying in together - see http://atrebatia.info/dft_20180124.pdf
(Tied in Devizes, Corsham, Frome too in talking it through)
MT 1. Confirm CR continuity
2. On face of it, join up makes huge sense
3. SWR / GWR have to work together and are doing so

Lance Allan - about a split.  Question - how should we respond?
MT - no easy answer. Hearing strong message about tying up.
You might suggest that SWI split may have TransWilts issues [[ totally correct, Matt! ]]
May look at devolution within operator [[ Yes - much more sensible ]]
DR - My journey here all joined up. All same transport co.  Line down.  Integrated
Chris Grayling - (1) not run for money but for services
Western Region structure is what you have / it worked

DR - Equalites act .
Dorchester West - can leave but not join trains
Access for all - need to go though qualities.  Trowbridge no lifts. Work done by WC, etc
Heart of Wessex - Bruton issue.  Yeovil not fit for purpose
Ask for fully evaluated for accessability.  Highligtning Dorchester.
Trouble in this area - lack of accessible taxis.
Ask for disability group assessment and equality plan.
NB stalled schemes WSM, CNM, Nailsea ... hate break up idea
Northern and GTR have not been broken up.  You should deal with them

PJ - look at cross platform connections. 4 minute connection cannot make.
Also difficult for mothers with buggies
Platform logicistice needed Salisbury and Westbury
Past era - deciding on structure.  Lots of muddle and mess.
Frightens me that 2 years to break down and set up befor your next changes; should be delivering not changing the process
Improve please but don't throw away for grand theory that won't the realised for a number of years
MT - lot of good sense - please make those inputs; make at *political level too*

Colin Dale - good services east, nowt westwards. Tried to support buses - also difficult.
Want to see increase based on population
Why say "not Cornwall and Devon franchise" - concern at race from London to The West
MT - DIFFERENT proposition to that one.
PRTF, faster v community needs - recognise need, should not be at expense of connectivity; not a good idea to take call out to short term sped up by five minutes.  Need to look at whole pattern, quite different to what's there today.
"D & C have said they don't want their own franchise to run just their trains"
SA (DfT) - aware of industry models not taking extremes into account.

DP - on Cross boundary service.
SWR fulfilling contract obligation. What is change of yerilding something
MT - specifically asked SWR to work with GWR - general good opportunity
MB (GWR) - intention ideas very much joined up, things that are actionable should things be worthwhile
Qute a good moment.  Helps that Andy Mellors knows us; joint working group at director level.
Supportive and working in that direction

PJ - based on CG statemnt on hydrogen trains - does this kill CPM to BRI electificatio
MT - outside granchise, can't answer

DR - split may bring in third company.  More joined up.  66% of public want joined up

DP - Significnat towns off rail network.  What scope in franchise to incentive / compel links to work?
SA - I am VERY keen on this.  Increasingly issue of integrated ticketing.
Very keen to mature smart card schemes. Can't solve every single problem but come make specific looks.

DR - Make sure as much bus and rail integration as possible.
Make it a franchise obligation.

HEALTHY debate sprung up at a public meeting in Trowbridge over the best way of improving and increasing the number of train services in Wiltshire.

Great Western Rail Service representatives held a Q&A session at the Civic Hall on Wednesday to discuss improving routes from Trowbridge and Westbury to London, better connections across the county and on campaigns for new stations in Corsham and at Devizes Parkway.

The 40 or so attendees, including town council staff, locals and rail user group members, all agreed on having more services between the above places and from Swindon to Westbury, Westbury to Salisbury and Salisbury to Southampton, but differed on how best to deliver it. That involved either splitting the Great Western Franchise in 2022 or not.

[etc]

DfT stakeholder briefing document and consultation response published today - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/736146/great-western-rail-franchise-stakeholder-briefing-document.pdf

DfT stakeholder briefing document and consultation response published today - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/736146/great-western-rail-franchise-stakeholder-briefing-document.pdf

In the light of the consultation we now propose the following revised objectives for the franchise in the 2020s:

• Provide safe, punctual and reliable services with enough seats and space for people who want to use them and at the times when people want to travel;
• Focus on the needs of the travelling public to provide an excellent and continually improving customer experience for all passengers, whatever their particular needs and abilities, and improving ease of interchange between rail services and other modes;
• Maximise the benefits for passengers from the current transformational investment in the Great Western railway network, including by ensuring that enhanced services are delivered to a high standard of punctuality and reliability performance;
• Maximise the contribution of the railway to driving local and regional economic growth, enabling planned growth in housing, and meeting the wider needs of citizens and society across the whole of the franchise area;
• Be a responsible employer who invests in the welfare and the development of its workforce, motivating staff and equipping them with the right skills to provide the best possible customer service;
• Strengthen the connection between the railway and the communities it serves, supported by strong relationships with all those who have an interest in the franchise and the services it provides;
• Continue to improve the environmental performance of the railway including the environmental impact of older diesel rolling stock, support wider environmental objectives by providing an attractive alternative to more polluting modes, and improve measures such as energy and water consumption and recycling;
• Develop close collaborative working with Network Rail and other partners, bringing the operation of track and train closer together to deliver the best possible service for passengers, providing more coherent, integrated advice to local funders and promoters of schemes to improve the railway and drawing in funding from the widest possible range of sources
• Work with the Government and other agencies to support the development and delivery of other major rail investment schemes, such as the proposed western rail link to Heathrow, East-West Rail and the interface with HS2 at Old Oak Common; and
• Operate efficiently, providing best value for taxpayers’ and passengers’ money, thereby ensuring the maximum possible resources are available for further service improvements.

The DfT has responded to the consultation..... (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/736146/great-western-rail-franchise-stakeholder-briefing-document.pdf)

81 page pdf.....

Not easy to find in "Forum Overview - hence starting a new thread (which has been transferred to here.

Personally, this is so important that it ought to have it's own thread, suitably titled.

Not easy to find in "Forum Overview - hence starting a new thread (which has been transferred to here.

Dear Stakeholder,
 
We wish to alert you that yesterday we published the Stakeholder Briefing Document for the Great Western rail franchise.  Many thanks to everyone who took the time to response to the consultation, which took place between November 2017 and February 2018.  The Stakeholder Briefing Document sets out the issues which were raised though the public consultation, which was carried out between November 2017 and February 2018, and our response to these.  Key amongst these is our decision not to split the Great Western franchise, as stated  by the Secretary of State on 24th July.  The Stakeholder Briefing Document can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/736146/great-western-rail-franchise-stakeholder-briefing-document.pdf
 
We will be happy to discuss any issues further as we continue to develop the specification for the franchise, so please do contact  us if you have any questions, or wish to discuss any of the issues raised.
 
Yours sincerely,

I doubt they can give GWR advance notice of any requirements going specifically straight into the ITT for the new franchise can they? Surely the ITT can only be released to all successful applicants at the same time?

Indeed, which is what they're doing now.

Once that is sorted, the consultation document is likely to be used as the basis for ITT requirements, honed better to the length of said franchise to extract the best offer possible.

4. Progress to date and next steps

4.1 Since the public consultation ended, we have been reviewing the responses and evaluating these to decide whether there will be a case for specifying specific improvements to the franchise. This builds on the earlier round of stakeholder engagement which took place during Summer 2017. In some areas, we will seek specific improvements from the franchise; in others we may set out the issue or the outcomes we require, and ask FirstGroup how it will address these issues or outcomes.

4.2 We had originally suggested that we might to issue the formal specification to FirstGroup in June 2018. However, a number of issues have arisen, which mean that this will no longer be appropriate. In particular, there have been delays in completed sections of the agreed infrastructure upgrades, and we feel that it will be more beneficial if the franchise is able to concentrate on managing the effect of this, the introduction of new fleets of trains and the transfer of trains within the franchise, and preparing for the introduction of new timetables. In common with other franchises, we also need to consider how future timetable improvements can best be introduced in order to provide the intended benefits while restoring better performance, and ensuring that passengers can be confident that the timetable will operate as planned.

4.3 Over the coming months, we will work with FirstGroup as we develop the ‘Request for Proposal’, which will comprise the formal specification for the franchise. In doing so, we will have to consider consultees’ priorities for improvement alongside the availability of central government funds to secure those improvements, recognising the continuing pressures on the public finances. We will expect FirstGroup to engage closely with stakeholders as part of this process and this engagement could include discussions about the potential for local funding contributions towards initiatives that support local plans for economic, employment and housing growth but that would not be viable for FirstGroup to deliver alone. FirstGroup will develop a full costed ‘Proposal’ in response to our specification, which we evaluate to ensure that it meets our specification and is affordable. We will then negotiate detailed terms with FirstGroup, including contractual commitments to secure delivery of the outcomes promised within the Proposal.

Perhaps it would have explained about this extension/direct award and what was in it, and what wasn't so would be in the next proper franchise.