Government review of Franchising

[whole diary]

[grahame]

The Brown Review of the Rail Franchising Programme ... do we have a thread running? ... would anyone care to summarise?

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/49453/cm-8526.pdf

[Chris from Nailsea]

While there is no topic yet running on the Brown Review specifically, the report is referred to here: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11347.msg124407#msg124407

I'll browse through the 86 pages ( ) over the weekend, and try to summarize it here ... 

[SandTEngineer]

Well a quick speed read says that we will be turning the clock back to 1994............

[eightf48544]

Just a thought George Weedon Divisional Manager Central Division southern Region in the1960s refused to accept any report longer than one side of an A4 sheet.

But boy did you have to sure that you could back up whatever was said on that one side as you would be forensically cross examined and any statment not fully back up would fall.

I found all the practice I did doing precises for GCE O'level came in handy. Does anyone do preceses any more?

Maybe we should introduce it for Government reports. 86 pages! Good luck in summerising it Chris.

[BandHcommuter]

The report has a reasonably concise executive summary. In fact the recommendations alone on pages 8 to 10 give an adequate flavour of the conclusions.

[ChrisB]

Not yet looked at this, but is this the unexpurgated version?

I understand these two paras were left out of the initial version, amongst others, and the Government has only just released these missing paras....

8.15 I do not believe that the current value proposition is the right one for the Great Western franchise. Great Western is a more difficult proposition for the Department as it is seeking to let a long franchise on a high value, complex operation where there will be substantial disruption from major infrastructure programmes in the coming years. As I have touched on elsewhere, West Coast route modernisation taught Government and the industry valuable lessons about seeking to transfer full revenue risk to franchisees when major investment programmes are taking place. Those lessons should not be lost.




8.16 In developing the new programme, the Department will need to consider how any delay in Great Western fits within the portfolio of upcoming inter-city competitions. Great Western, East Coast and West Coast are all large contracts, even on a shorter initial term ^ and the Department needs to phase these competitions in a way that both it and the market can deal with.

[grahame]

Brown review response is published this morning -

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211639/brown-government-response.pdf

Press release -

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-responds-to-brown-review-on-rail-franchising-reform

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:

The independent Brown review was clear that franchising is the best way to secure services for passengers. It provided a sensible approach to strengthen a process that has contributed significantly to the success of our railways.

Since the review was published, the department has worked hard to implement its recommendations. Good progress has been made and we are on course to deliver a franchising programme that promotes a thriving rail industry and secures the best deal for passengers and taxpayers.

[JayMac]

Hogwash and whitewash.

[trainer]

Sorry, it just won't wash!

I have said this before: a House of Commons made up of lawyers is hardly likely to say that the franchised gravy train was a mistake.

[JayMac]

If we have to have a privatised railway then concessions, rather than franchises, are the model that should be pursued nationally.

[trainer]

There's a lot of sense in that, BNM.  Much better system.