Paddington - Penzance potential service cuts

[whole diary]

[grahame]

d) There are some services which are more operationally convenenient than provided for significant passenger flows, and including those in the spec would tie down the next operator unnecessarily. I would argue against a specification that's drawn up in a way that it forces (or strongly creates an environment for) a less than optimum service as far as passenger are concerned.

Good example came up just a few minutes ago.  The 06:48 Portsmouth Harbour to Brighton (arrive 08:15) is cancelled this morning. Quick look on journey check shows that the 06:45 from PMH, change at Havant, will get you to Brighton at 08:18.  Being a Saturday, I would expect there to be plenty of room on the remaining train.

Even if there's a franchise requiement to have an GW^▸ (Great Western) unit in Brighton to form a subsequent departure, I contend that it's reasonable to leave it (on Saturday morning at least) to the GW TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) to decide if the unit runs a service from PMH first, or perhaps an extra North Downs service from Reading to Gatwick and on to Brighton, giving extra strength to the airport for everyone flying away on their Saturday package holidays.  Or for the unit to be parked up at Preston Park overnight from Friday ...

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Cornwall MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) concerned over London-Penzance trains

Cornwall's Liberal Democrat MPs have raised concerns the number of direct trains between London and Penzance have not been guaranteed under a proposed rail franchise.

Travellers currently have nine direct services on offer a day. But the Department of Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) said the Great Western franchise would provide nine links a day - with at least six involving direct services.

MPs said they would keep applying pressure on the government.

The DfT said it had asked bidders to explore how services might be improved.

Rail Minister Theresa Villiers announced on Friday the requirements expected of the successful bidder for the 15-year franchise. She said the sleeper service to Penzance would be retained and an extra early, fast train from London to Plymouth introduced.

However, she added a final decision had not been taken on the exact number of direct services between London and Penzance. She said: "The invitation to tender requires the continuation of nine journey opportunities between London and Penzance each day - in addition to the sleeper - with at least six being provided by through trains."

Any non-through services would involve passengers having to change trains.

The MPs - North Cornwall's Dan Rogerson, St Austell and Newquay's Stephen Gilbert, and St Ives' Andrew George - said they were to continue lobbying for nine to be the minimum amount of direct trains.

Mr George said the minister's announcement was "not the clear victory Cornwall needs". He said: "We have everything to play for now. We must keep up the pressure until at least the tender deadline of October 2012."

The three Lib Dems are half of the county's six MPs.

The leader of Conservative-Independent led Cornwall Council, Alec Robertson, said the news was an improvement on what was previously feared. He said: "A couple of weeks ago, a service of nine journeys was off the table. But now the minister has asked for bidders to bid on both options [nine direct services, or nine services involving connections], so we have nine services back on the table."

The new franchise is due begin on 21 July 2013.

The four shortlisted bidders from run the franchise are: First Great Western Trains Ltd, GW^▸ (Great Western) Trains Ltd, NXGW^▸ (National Express Great Western - a bidder for 2013 franchise) Trains Ltd and Stagecoach Great Western Trains Ltd.

First has run the Great Western franchise since 2005.

The new operator would be announced in March 2013, the government said.

[Kernow Otter]

Interesting radio interview from BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Radio Cornwall with Alec Robertson - leader of Cornwall Council, followed by Chris Pomphret - Chairman of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, on the subject of the ITT^▸ (Invitation to Tender) and how it relates to Cornwall.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/p00vxcjx

from 00:28.15.  6 days only.