Next South Western franchise bidders announced - 4 February 2016

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

The DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) this morning, 4th February 2016, announced the (just) two shortlisted bidders for the next South Western franchise from June 2017. They are:

Stagecoach South West Ltd
First South West Trains Ltd

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/two-companies-shortlisted-to-compete-for-the-next-south-western-rail-franchise

[Tim]

Interesting to see that we have no foreign state-owned railways shortlisted this time.  That seemed to be becoming the norm. 

[ChrisB]

hmmm.....will they really consider giving First a monopoly in the SW?

[TaplowGreen]

hmmm.....will they really consider giving First a monopoly in the SW?

......First? Surely that would be their only franchise? They'd be up against the Great Western Railway don't you know? 😉

[JayMac]

hmmm.....will they really consider giving First a monopoly in the SW?

Why not? Stagecoach/Virgin have 99.9% of the London<->Scotland rail market.

Also, if First win SW and retain GW^▸ (Great Western) they wouldn't have a rail monopoly in the South West. There's the CossCountry franchisee too.

[JayMac]

Coincidentally, today was the 20th anniversary of the first re-privatised rail service. Which just happened to be Stagecoach South West Trains.

Anniversary of first privatised passenger train marked - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35483090

[Richard Fairhurst]

Though the first "privatised railway" service was operated by Great Western (Trains, as was) and was, fittingly, a rail replacement bus:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/first-privatised-train-turns-out-to-be-a-late-running-bus-1317415.html

[JayMac]

That was indeed the first 'service'. The first re-privatised train was the 0510 Twickenham to Waterloo.

[Rhydgaled]

That was indeed the first 'service'. The first re-privatised train was the 0510 Twickenham to Waterloo.

That article said the bus was a 1.50am Fishguard-to-Paddington service. Was this routed via Swansea, if not I would have thought it would make it to Cardiff before 05:10 and thus the first train would have been the Cardiff to London leg of that Fishguard service (next Tuesday the train is timetabled to reach Cardiff at 05:01, even though you now need to change at Swansea), unless it had to wait for the bus.

[Tim]

hmmm.....will they really consider giving First a monopoly in the SW?

Of course they shouldn't give First a monopoly.  Even if, like me, you think that franchises are pointless and would prefer something better, given that we have got them removing competition can't be right.

However I suspect that the franchising rules may prevent effects on competition from being taken into account.  It will only be looked at if and when First get both franchises.

[IndustryInsider]

On how many routes is there significant real competition between GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and SWT^▸ (South West Trains) to make that a problem?  London to Exeter is one, but I can't think of many others.

[trainer]

On how many routes is there significant real competition between GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and SWT^▸ (South West Trains) to make that a problem?  London to Exeter is one, but I can't think of many others.

There is a genuine alternative (with competitive fares) on the Bristol/Bath - London Waterloo route and although limited, SWT offers a reasonable travelling time for accessing South London through Clapham Junction. I find visiting family in Croydon is cheaper and easier than going through Paddington. No doubt others will have a view on Westbury - London alternatives as I don't know about the fares from there.

It would be very bad if a monopoly provider charged the same fare for all routes to London from Bristol/Bath at the current GWR rate.

[trainer]

I have just read in my Private Eye (p17 of Issue 1411) that the National Audit Office wrote that the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) regard just two bidders for a franchise as below the minimum "necessary to ensure good quality bids".

I wonder if they will stick by that or ideology will prevail and the process will continue?

[grahame]

I have just read in my Private Eye (p17 of Issue 1411) that the National Audit Office wrote that the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) regard just two bidders for a franchise as below the minimum "necessary to ensure good quality bids".

I wonder if they will stick by that or ideology will prevail and the process will continue?

Up until the tail end of last year, there was at least one other potential bidder in the frame making a significant investment in listening and learning. Totally their perogative to withdraw from the process - but obviously puts the DfT into a bit of an awkward position with the suggestion that 2 is too few, yet with a process for which the alternatives would be rather awkward.

[JayMac]

Stagecoach also withdrew from the negotiations for a franchise extension.

What if one of the two bidders pulls out between now and award date?

I'm wondering if shareholders are waking up to the fact that recent rail franchise ITTs^▸ (Invitation to Tender) offer a very poor return.

Super franchise for London to South Wales/West/South West and radial routes anyone?