ScotRail is dead. Long live ScotRail.

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Today, 1st April 2015, marks the start of the new ScotRail franchise, operated by Abellio, the international arm of Dutch state railway Nederlandse Spoorwegen.

Abellio ScotRail has taken over from FirstGroup's First ScotRail.

[LiskeardRich]

If only this was an April fool....

[JayMac]

May be too late for many but Abellio ScotRail are giving away ^1 million worth of tickets as an introductory offer.

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/offers/ticket-giveaway

I just tried a random selection and was successful. I have a free return journey between Falkirk and Stirling on June 10th. Whether I actually use it...

[Chris from Nailsea]

From Aberdeen Journals:

FirstGroup shakes off ScotRail loss with upbeat report on trading


FirstGroup chief executive Tim O'Toole

Transport giant FirstGroup bounced back from the loss of its ScotRail franchise yesterday by revealing 6.6% growth expectations for like-for-like revenue on its trains.

The Aberdeen company delivered its latest trading update the same day as Dutch rival Abellio took over ScotRail, which has been run by FirstGroup for the past 10 years.

FirstGroup, which is due to report results for the year to March 31 on June 10, said it was on track for growth at the top end of expectations.

A week after the business got the green light to continue running the Great Western rail franchise until 2019, it said strong demand meant like-for-like rail revenue was likely to be 6.6% higher than a year ago.

Sales growth in the group^s UK^▸ (United Kingdom) bus division was up by an estimated 2.3%, thanks to periodic fare increases and a 2.6% rise in passenger numbers.

The update also confirmed a recent turnaround for FirstGroup^s school bus operations ^ its First Student business ^ in the US and Canada.

Despite fourth quarter trading ^modestly affected^ by adverse weather, First Student revenue for the year is expected to be 1.3% higher after it continued with its strategy of only bidding for and retaining contracts with a decent rate of return.

^We expect (First Student) to deliver margins of approximately 7.5% for the year and are confident of delivering our double-digit margin target in the medium-term,^ FirstGroup said.

Fourth quarter like-for-like revenue for the group^s North American intercity Greyhound coaches fell by 5.5% as lower fuel prices made car travel more affordable. As a result, full-year revenue is expected to be flat.

Chief executive Tim O^Toole said the group, whose rail operations include First Great Western, Transpennine Express and Hull Trains, continued to make progress with its ^multi-year transformation plans^ after a slump in profits in 2012/13.

Meanwhile, the new operator of the ScotRail franchise celebrated the launch of a ^new chapter^ in the history of Scotland^s railways yesterday.

Abellio marked the first day of operating the trains by giving away ^1million worth of tickets.

Its plans for the network include brand new trains between Edinburgh and Glasgow, offering faster journey times and more capacity, and a fully refurbished intercity fleet on other city to city routes.

Abellio chief executive Jeff Hoogesteger said: ^As the new stewards of a vital part of Scotland^s society and economy, we understand the responsibility given to us and will work every day to earn the faith that has been shown in us. The ball is now very firmly in Abellio^s court and we have no higher priority than to bring our vision for ScotRail to life.^

[TaplowGreen]

What were the reasons for FirstGroup losing this franchise?

[ChrisB]

The others were better ;-)

"Bounce back from losing".... What? These figures *include* Scotrail. *Next* year's might be described as a bounce-back, IF their figures *without* Scotrail are as good as these!

[paul7575]

What were the reasons for FirstGroup losing this franchise?

Apart from the obvious that Transport Scotland decided to award the contract to Abellio?  

Unless First group themselves publish a (public) comparison of the two bids it is normal practice for nothing much to be said about the outgoing and any other losing bidder's understanding of the reasons.

IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly), in the English franchises it wasn't really until Virgin 'lost' the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) that a losing incumbent published a detailed comparison of their bid with respect to the winner.   DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) never seem to say anything publicly about the losers, and I'd expect Transport Scotland to be the same about their process?

Paul

[TaplowGreen]

Thanks paul - I think I understood the fact that the contract had been awarded elsewhere, hence my question - it was more about whether Abellio's offering was vastly different to First Groups in terms of more frequent services, capacity etc?

[ChrisB]

I doubt whether we'll ever know what was in First's losing bid.

[JayMac]

Franchise bids are made to a government department (the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) and whilst I understand that, for commercial reasons, they are exempt from Freedom of Information requests, could it be that they'd be kept in the National Anchovies and released at a much later date? 30 year rule perhaps.

So perhaps it's not that we'll never know, just not know for a long time.

[ChrisB]

If that were so, the dirst failures ought to available soon?

[JayMac]

30 years from the first round of franchise bids would be 2025.

I'm only guessing mind. The details of unsuccessful bids could have been shredded or locked away for ever and a day. On balance though I think they are probably archived.


Here's me about to pick up on other member's typos until I spotted this:

could it be that they'd be kept in the National Anchovies

Don't'cha just love it when an auto-correct slips by unnoticed at the time of typing? 

[paul7575]

could it be that they'd be kept in the National Anchovies

Don't'cha just love it when an auto-correct slips by unnoticed at the time of typing? 

Some people do think there's something fishy about the whole process.   Forget about Greater West - it could end up with John West...   

Paul

[bobm]

30 years from the first round of franchise bids would be 2025.

I'm only guessing mind. The details of unsuccessful bids could have been shredded or locked away for ever and a day. On balance though I think they are probably archived.


Here's me about to pick up on other member's typos until I spotted this:

could it be that they'd be kept in the National Anchovies

Don't'cha just love it when an auto-correct slips by unnoticed at the time of typing? 

I was working on a rail itinery yesterday and Inverkeithing was changed by auto-correct to "Inverse Itching". I'm going to Dundee instead! 

[IndustryInsider]

I was working on a rail itinery yesterday and Inverkeithing was changed by auto-correct to "Inverse Itching". I'm going to Dundee instead! 

With inverse itching I'd be going to the doctors! 😏