First / MTR win South Western franchise 2017 - 2024, and CMA raises competition concerns (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

Apparently First/MTR^▸ (Mass Transit Railway, based in Hong Kong) Joint venture have been awarded the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) Franchise.  Can't find the press release just yet but will post again when I have unless anybody else beats me to it

Edit: Here it is https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-mtr-south-western-trains-limited-wins-south-western-franchise

[TonyK]

So First will soon have the distinction of being part of companies operating both the newest rolling stock (Class 800 / 801) and the oldest (the Class 483 1938 stock trains of the Island Line) on the British rail network.

[PhilWakely]

Would be interesting to see whether there will be a change in livery given the current livery is based around the Stagecoach colours and stripes (a very expensive exercise!)

[ChrisB]

"More space for passengers"

Read that, if the Crossrail trains are a previous example, as fewer seats & more standing space!

[JayMac]

I wonder how the news will be met in South Hampshire?  

Some good news for rail users on the Portsmouth to Waterloo corridor. It seems they'll be getting proper mainline rolling stock again with the reintroduction of (refurbished) Class 442s. Gone by 2018 will be 3+2 seating on Portsmouth Direct Line services.

With the likelihood that the 18 refurbished trains are to be Class 442 it also neatly kills off all the wild and silly ideas for their use elsewhere.

An end of an era. This was the longest continuously operated franchise by the same company, following the Railways Act 1993. The first privatised scheduled passenger train, since the formation of British Railways (later British Rail) in 1948, was operated by Stagecoach South West Trains 21 years ago on 4th February 1996.

A full statement from FirstGroup/MTR^▸ (Mass Transit Railway, based in Hong Kong) Corporation, too long to quote here, can be read at the following link:

http://otp.investis.com/generic/regulatory-story.aspx?newsid=857157&cid=858

And a statement from Stagecoach:

http://m.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/2017/2017-03-27.aspx

[Timmer]

An end of an era. This was the longest continuously operated franchise by the same company, following the Railways Act 1993. The first privatised scheduled passenger train, since the formation of British Railways (later British Rail) in 1948, was operated by Stagecoach South West Trains 21 years ago on 4th February 1996.

Indeed, Stagecoach have on the whole done a good job running SWT^▸ (South West Trains) but let's see if a change to First/MTR^▸ (Mass Transit Railway, based in Hong Kong) can build on that. I'm not pleased that once again it's another short franchise. Great to see 442's back in SWT land. Going to be interesting how they are planning to speed up journeys on the Weymouth-Waterloo route, stop at fewer stations along the route?

[ChrisB]

Stagecoach will up itys bid for 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) franchise I reckon....swap of franchises coming up?

[Richard Fairhurst]

We will introduce simpler fares with mobile and smart
ticketing. These will include flexible season tickets

Good. Now let's see that on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) too, over and above the few available in Devon & Cornwall.

[ChrisB]

Next franchise? Or is there a specific clause in this one for those?

Be interesting to see what the offered discount will be? Campaigners are suggesting the same as for annual tickets, which just won't happen. It's based on the number of days travel being purchased in advance of course

[IndustryInsider]

Amongst many challenges ahead in implementing the improvements they hope to bring, it'll be interesting to see how they get all the extra crew for these additional Sunday services they have promised.  If it all comes to pass, another great franchise award by the DfT which really improves the passengers lot - though I predict problems and a watering down, sorry, more clearly defined plan, for some of these pledges...

FirstGroup share price currently trading 3.10% up.

[simonw]

Interesting that the last two franchise renewals for First GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and CrossCountry offered nothing, but this renewal offers more trains and seats.

Just a shame that First GWR could not have been forced in 2013 to lengthen there local trains to add capacity, and CrossCountry could really do with longer trains.

[ChrisB]

And where would they have got the stock for these?

[simonw]

No idea, I was not suggesting large train purchases, but it is very frustrating that nothing has been done to address local train pressures, until the stock displacement from South East later this year and next year.

I just find it incredulous that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and to a lesser extent CrossCountry, have had renewals and extensions with no benefit for passengers, whilst other franchise renewals bring in extra capacity.

[ChrisB]

XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) was a 'short' extension wasn't it? And GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) only got to 2019?, again shorter than generally - that'll be why.

[TonyK]

Interesting that the last two franchise renewals for First GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and CrossCountry offered nothing, but this renewal offers more trains and seats.

Just a shame that First GWR could not have been forced in 2013 to lengthen there local trains to add capacity, and CrossCountry could really do with longer trains.

The Class 442 EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) are rather special in that there are some in storage, following their replacement on Gatwick Express. Practically everything else on wheels that still works properly (and a few that don't!) is out carrying passengers. I hope they have been given a thorough overhaul whilst in storage, although they will need rebranding.

The Evening Standard views this as a "shock" announcement, although it doesn't say why. Less shockingly, it reports that RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) is against the move.