From late last November (2017) to late February this year, there was a public consultation on the next year(s) in Great(er) Western Land. Responses were in by 21st February, since when it all has been quiet - at least on the surface.
A new direct award, starting this October, and running for a year has already gone to First.
There is a probability that a further 2 years (with possible 2 year extension) direct award will also go to First, though of course the
DfT» have the option of using Direct Operated Rail (or another shell) to take it in house
Then - under current plans - a new franchise will be let; the 'money' is on 7 to 10 years. That would start in October 2022 or October 2024 by my calculations.
Of course, it might be all quiet on the surface but under the water there's a lot of paddling going on. The Invitation to tender for the 2 or 4 years is in preparation, informed (we very much hope) by the consultation inputs which came not only from the public, but also from other stakeholders including (I would be pretty sure) First, with suggestions of what they could do.
We have been assure this will not be a "stand still" direct award - things can be progressed - and indeed one of the franchise questions asked what the respondents had on their immediate shopping list for that period. It remains to be seen just how much influence the inputs have had; at the meetings I went to there was a consistency of input which should encourage the DfT to follow popular requests, rather that throw its hands up in horror and make a presidential choice.
The
ITT▸ will be out in the next quarter. First will have a few months to respond, with the decision being announced in early 2019, and the new arrangement starting in October 2019.
As a reminder in this sticky topic, here are links to our discussions about the direct award and franchise?
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19037.0 Forum Overview
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19038.0 Franchise Objectives (question 1)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19039.0 Splitting the Franchise (question 2)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19040.0 Future home for Greenford and Brighton services (question 3)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19041.0 Network Rail and
TOC▸ relationship (question 4)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19042.0 Timetable Improvements (question 5)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19043.0 New Stations or lines (question 6)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19044.0 Faster Journeys through less stops?? (question 7)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19045.0 Direct through service provision (question
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19046.0 (question 9)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19047.0 Other Service Enhancements (question 10)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19048.0 Freight Expectations (question 11)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19049.0 Rolling stock and provision therein (question 12)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19050.0 Accessibility (question 13)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19051.0 Stations (question 14)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19052.0 Fares and Ticketing (question 15)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19053.0 Community Rail(question 16)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19054.0 Investment in the workforce (question 17)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19055.0 Any other business (question 18)
http://gwr.passenger.chat/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19056.0 Sections that do not ask questions, and things missed out
The forum response to the franchise is at
http://gwr.passenger.chat/gwf_cs_final.pdf and the thread referring to our special Coffee Shop meeting is at
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=19134.0 .
This is written to form a "sticky topic" to hold all these links together
