Another Franchise Sale

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Following the sale of C2C by National Express, it seems that Abellio is selling a 40% stake in Greater Anglia

From the Morning Star

TRAIN operator Abellio announced yesterday that it is selling off 40 per cent of its Greater Anglia rail franchise to the Japanese firm Mitsui.
RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) leader Mick Cash said that the plans make a “mockery” of the government’s passenger rail franchising process, showing that Britain’s rail network is “constantly up for grabs.”
Abellio won renewal of its contract to operate the Greater Anglia network as recently as last August, having first operated it from February 2012.

[TaplowGreen]

Following the sale of C2C by National Express, it seems that Abellio is selling a 40% stake in Greater Anglia

From the Morning Star

TRAIN operator Abellio announced yesterday that it is selling off 40 per cent of its Greater Anglia rail franchise to the Japanese firm Mitsui.
RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) leader Mick Cash said that the plans make a “mockery” of the government’s passenger rail franchising process, showing that Britain’s rail network is “constantly up for grabs.”
Abellio won renewal of its contract to operate the Greater Anglia network as recently as last August, having first operated it from February 2012.

It's nice to know that there's so much interest in British Railway matters in Moscow!

[ChrisB]

Abellio were in this bid originally with Stagecoach to share the higher risk that comes with the associated order for new stock - Stagecoach pulled out - it isn't rocket science to expect them to find another operator to share this risk?

[chrisr_75]

Abellio were in this bid originally with Stagecoach to share the higher risk that comes with the associated order for new stock - Stagecoach pulled out - it isn't rocket science to expect them to find another operator to share this risk?

Exactly, no idea why the union feels the need to get upset by this, other than their inbuilt sense of righteous indignation taking control of their senses!

[Noggin]

There's an interesting thread on this on WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) - http://wnxxforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15080.

Basically Abellio is limited by Dutch Treasury rules as to how much financial risk it can take, so it had to find a partner. Mitsui is basically a Japanese merchant bank with very deep pockets, but I think there might be slightly more to it, given that Hitachi and Mitsui were part of a consortium that has won some big resignalling and telecoms projects in India.

[chrisr_75]

but I think there might be slightly more to it, given that Hitachi and Mitsui were part of a consortium that has won some big resignalling and telecoms projects in India.

Could you elaborate on this please? What would the 'slightly more' be exactly?!

The link to another forum you sent requires a login...

[LiskeardRich]

but I think there might be slightly more to it, given that Hitachi and Mitsui were part of a consortium that has won some big resignalling and telecoms projects in India.

Could you elaborate on this please? What would the 'slightly more' be exactly?!

The link to another forum you sent requires a login...

Abellio are getting new trains, they are getting into bed with Mitsui, who are already in bed with with hitachi who build trains. Prospect of 'mates rates' on their new trains,

[John R]

but I think there might be slightly more to it, given that Hitachi and Mitsui were part of a consortium that has won some big resignalling and telecoms projects in India.

Could you elaborate on this please? What would the 'slightly more' be exactly?!

The link to another forum you sent requires a login...

Abellio are getting new trains, they are getting into bed with Mitsui, who are already in bed with with hitachi who build trains. Prospect of 'mates rates' on their new trains,

Unlikely.  That contract has already been finalised.

[welshman]

But they are one of the four bidders for the Wales & Borders franchise - Abellio, Arriva, KeolisAmey and MTR - so maybe they're promising new trains.  A stranger thing happened yesterday in the US of A.