Great Western Franchise Extension

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

So 3.5 years from September 2015 to March 2019, 9 months before Crossrail is due to pop it's head out of the tunnel. But the possibility of a 1 year extension.

That will then be an interesting franchoise bid in that any would be TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) will have to bid for 9 months running the TV^▸ (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) services which will then go to Crossrail. Should add to the cost! Whereas if the new franchise starts after December 2019 Crossrail will already be in running the TV services. 

[ChrisB]

Hence the possibility of the extension. But if Crossrail start date slips.....I suspect a new franchisee will be doing what you suggest for a year+....

ITT^▸ (Invitation to Tender) due to be issued Jan 18, so decision needed before then.

[paul7575]

Service transfers to/from another TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) are not that uncommon in the year after a franchise starts, not least because they usually have to coincide with annual timetable change dates.

As an example in the GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) region, SWT^▸ (South West Trains)'s withdrawal west of Exeter took place about a year after the franchise started, and the corresponding changes to FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s services also took place mid franchise.

On current dates Crossrail will be already be running from Abbey Wood to Westbourne Park reversing sidings via Paddington LL, and from Paddington HL to Heathrow (the former Heathrow Connects).   I'd expect the Greenfords will already have been cut back, so the effect of Crossrail on the new franchise is not that huge, I think it will only be 2 the tph^▸ (trains per hour) stoppers to Reading that will be transferring.

Paul

[ChrisB]

So 3.5 years from September 2015 to March 2019, 9 months before Crossrail is due to pop it's head out of the tunnel. But the possibility of a 1 year extension.

hmmm...."up to" one year.

[eightf48544]

I think it will only be 2 the tph^▸ (trains per hour) stoppers to Reading that will be transferring.
Paul

It's slightly more than that, Crossrail monopolises the Relief lines from Hayes to Padd in the pek Which is why Twyford and Maidenehad passengers are worried about losing their semi fasts and through branch trains from Bourne End and Henley.

[paul7575]

It's slightly more than that, Crossrail monopolises the Relief lines from Hayes to Padd in the pek Which is why Twyford and Maidenehad passengers are worried about losing their semi fasts and through branch trains from Bourne End and Henley.

No, Crossrail does not 'monopolise the reliefs' at any time - this has been discussed on a number of previous occasions.

This is clearly shown on their website as:

Other operators^ services are assumed to be:

2 trains per hour from Reading calling at Twyford, Maidenhead, Slough and Ealing Broadway to Paddington;
1 through train from Henley on Thames to Paddington; and
1 through train from Bourne End to Paddington

http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/surface/western-section/

There's also a table below showing 'summary of minimum services etc' and pointing out that the table does not include services on the main lines, indicating that the services shown are on the reliefs.   That page was updated to the current wording immediately after the announcement of the extension to Reading.

Paul