Budget announcements, 18 March 2015 (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[chrisr_75]

Two points of direct interest to this forum just announced, initial details on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31928641

-A new rail franchise for south-west England

-Severn Bridge tolls to be scrapped from 2018

[chuffed]

Not so fast. Seems as if someone heard what they wanted to hear. Tolls NOT being scrapped just cut to ^5.40 for cars,white van man, pink van woman and buses from 2018.

[chrisr_75]

Not so fast. Seems as if someone heard what they wanted to hear. Tolls NOT being scrapped just cut to ^5.40 for cars,white van man, pink van woman and buses from 2018.

Indeed, there was an inaccuracy in the initial reporting, thanks BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)! 

New SW England rail franchise stands.

[chrisr_75]

A little more info on the SW England rail franchise here http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2015/03/18-transport-investment-confirmed-by-chancellor.html

[/"We^re also connecting up the South West, with over ^7 billion of transport investment, better roads, support for air links, and ^ I can confirm today ^ a new rail franchise which will bring new intercity express trains and greatly improved rail services."

Talks have been underway for many months between FirstGroup and the Department for Transport, and there is speculation that First has won a further direct award of four years or so, which would extend the present franchise to 2020.
quote]

So it's not a new rail franchise as such, just a new award of an existing one...?! Bit of a non-story in the end!

[Zoe]

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/413949/47881_Budget_2015_Web_Accessible.pdf

Great Western direct award
^ The government will, subject to negotiations, shortly
agree a Direct Award with First Great Western until 2019 which will introduce the new Intercity
Express Trains and improve rail services across the South West.

This confirms it is indeed the direct award.

[JayMac]

First Group have done well by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) after handing the keys back a few years ago. Trebles all round.  

What is franchising for if it can just be ignored?

[TaplowGreen]

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/413949/47881_Budget_2015_Web_Accessible.pdf

Great Western direct award
^ The government will, subject to negotiations, shortly
agree a Direct Award with First Great Western until 2019 which will introduce the new Intercity
Express Trains and improve rail services across the South West.

This confirms it is indeed the direct award.

I guess that assumes the new trains will be running by 2019?

[SandTEngineer]

I guess that assumes the new trains will be running by 2019?

 

[ChrisB]

I heard that there's an additional year available at DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) discretion - we'll have to wait & see

[Oberon]

In his budget speech today Chancellor George Osborne said "We^re also connecting up the South West, with over ^7 billion of transport investment, better roads, support for air links, and ^ I can confirm today ^ a new rail franchise which will bring new intercity express trains and greatly improved rail services."

This could mean a number of things, so can anybody decode this?

[didcotdean]

The budget document says:

1.166 Transport: The government has already committed ^7.2 billion to transport
infrastructure in the South West. This includes: ^2 billion on upgrading key roads such as the
A30, A303, A358 and the M5; a new tunnel at Stonehenge; and electrification of the Great
Western Main Line. In January 2015, the Chancellor announced a new South West Peninsula Rail
Task Force to bring forward proposals for strategic and local rail schemes.

1.167 The Secretary of State for Transport will shortly set out details of the new franchise for
the Great Western Route, which will introduce the new ^3 billion Intercity Express
trains, more frequent services and faster journey times. To reduce costs for businesses,
once the Severn River Crossings are in public ownership after 2018, the government will
abolish Category 2 tolls (small goods vehicles and small buses) and include those
vehicles in Category 1 (motor cars and motor caravans).

1.168 Transport: The government has asked the South West Peninsula Task Force
on rail to consider improvements to the Exeter to Salisbury line as part of its work.
The government also encourages the relevant local authorities and Local Enterprise
Partnership to develop a business case for investment in the North Devon Link road,
to form the basis of a future application to the Local Growth Fund.

1.169 Plymouth Marine Enterprise Zone and airport: The government will seek to
create a new Enterprise Zone on the south Naval Dockyard site, and commission a new
study into the possibility of reopening Plymouth airport.

[Rhydgaled]

I guess that assumes the new trains will be running by 2019?

The first one has reached the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) already, so at least some of them will probably be running by 2019. The questions are (a.) where? and (b.) for how much of the journey will they be running their 'Gin Palace' underfloor diesel engines?

[Oberon]

Improvements to the Exeter-Salisbury line are intriguing: could be electrification, a fast or semi-fast service from Waterloo, Inter City type trains, redoubling etc. So much could be done, and it sounds as if the money might be available.

[TaplowGreen]

In his budget speech today Chancellor George Osborne said "We^re also connecting up the South West, with over ^7 billion of transport investment, better roads, support for air links, and ^ I can confirm today ^ a new rail franchise which will bring new intercity express trains and greatly improved rail services."

This could mean a number of things, so can anybody decode this?

............beginning to wonder if there's anyone who ISN'T going to claim credit for Network Rail's investment!!!

[TaplowGreen]

I guess that assumes the new trains will be running by 2019?

The first one has reached the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) already, so at least some of them will probably be running by 2019. The questions are (a.) where? and (b.) for how much of the journey will they be running their 'Gin Palace' underfloor diesel engines?

No offence (and nothing personal!), but "at least some of them will probably be running" doesn't inspire much faith! (although it probably reflects reality!)

I guess much of it is down to how much more the electrification overruns and if the overspend is met.........."in" 2019 rather than "by" 2019 may be worth a small each way bet? (......against the promise of 2017 touted by FGW^▸ (First Great Western)).