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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2009 10:49:45 GMT
National Express will have its East Anglia rail franchise terminated three years early, the government has said. The Department for Transport said National Express would lose the franchise on 31 March 2011 news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8380108.stm
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2009 17:16:35 GMT
Brilliant news! anything will be better than NatEx.
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Post by john on Nov 26, 2009 18:44:59 GMT
Bloody brilliant news!!! I've never said this about them before, but i do miss First running the GER I'm now worried about who could end up running the line. I'd love for Govia to come along and snap it up, but who knows. Knowing my luck it'll be some dickhead like Arriva
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2009 23:41:56 GMT
I too think National Express got far too complacent with their contracts, perhaps this will make them realise they cannot be so lax with standards.
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Post by snowman on Nov 27, 2009 6:28:46 GMT
Apparently it is why the NatEx East Coast franchise moved to Nov (not Dec as originally expected), just one day before the trigger date in East Anglia franchise extension. The later 3 years of the East Anglia franchise extension were always optional extension (which was assumed to be going ahead), and if NxEC had problems before that date the break point became the DFt's call rather than either partys choice.
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Post by ServerKing on Nov 27, 2009 9:56:22 GMT
I guess one more year or so of the knackered Class 317's and 315's then They couldn't even be arsed to repaint the trains from all the various liveries they're in, but just cut corners adding a white band saying National Express ;D I will miss those garish pink interiors on the 315's
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Post by mre81 on Nov 27, 2009 10:38:20 GMT
I guess one more year or so of the knackered Class 317's and 315's then They couldn't even be arsed to repaint the trains from all the various liveries they're in, but just cut corners adding a white band saying National Express ;D I will miss those garish pink interiors on the 315's Unless First take it on, and then you'll still have those lovely pink interiors, like First Capital Connect
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Post by romfordbuses on Nov 27, 2009 16:24:53 GMT
Hmmm Stagecoach liveried 315
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Post by john on Nov 27, 2009 18:04:19 GMT
Hmmm Stagecoach liveried 315 Oh i'd love to see a 360 with First interior and Stagecoach exterior ;D
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Post by ServerKing on Nov 29, 2009 7:02:33 GMT
It will be interesting to see who takes over - and to think NatEx spent all that time sticking their logo over the existing WAGN signs on station signage such as at Bruce Grove It's a shame it's peeling off ;D Whoever takes over should invest in new trains for Stansted Express - it's not much of a welcome for any overseas visitor to have to listen to all that traction motor noise when a 317 is at full pelt esp. those who come from Germany where their trains are so efficient and tidy
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2009 10:41:49 GMT
It will be interesting to see who takes over - and to think NatEx spent all that time sticking their logo over the existing WAGN signs on station signage such as at Bruce Grove It's a shame it's peeling off ;D Whoever takes over should invest in new trains for Stansted Express - it's not much of a welcome for any overseas visitor to have to listen to all that traction motor noise when a 317 is at full pelt esp. those who come from Germany where their trains are so efficient and tidy Unfortunately operators have to make do with the units allocated to them by the DfT. Most of the new units due in the next 5 years or so have already been provisionally allocated to the different franchises. Now if NX has put up a good case, they will have been allocated some of these. If they are due any of these new vehicles, it will be the case put forward by NX, not the new operator.
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Post by zebedee104 on Nov 29, 2009 11:13:59 GMT
New trains are already earmarked for Stansted Express, to be built by Bombardier. This article, while mostly referring to the Super Express trains Hitachi are going to build also mentions in passing 120 vehicles being built by Bombardier for StanEx services. Also, as an aside, I've never understood the jumping up and down for joy when any operator is replaced by another. At the end of the day, TUPE undertakings result in most of the staff who provided the service still providing the service working for new incumbent. So if they're bad apples with one hat on, they're still going to be the same bad apples, just with nice shiny new uniforms.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2009 12:01:52 GMT
New trains are already earmarked for Stansted Express, to be built by Bombardier. This article, while mostly referring to the Super Express trains Hitachi are going to build also mentions in passing 120 vehicles being built by Bombardier for StanEx services. Also, as an aside, I've never understood the jumping up and down for joy when any operator is replaced by another. At the end of the day, TUPE undertakings result in most of the staff who provided the service still providing the service working for new incumbent. So if they're bad apples with one hat on, they're still going to be the same bad apples, just with nice shiny new uniforms. Summary of unit allocations until 2014 can be found here. www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/rollingstock/rollingstockplan?page=6#a1017Basically you operate with whatever the DfT allocated to you. There are many operators that would like to upgrade their fleets, but DfT will not finance it ... and current franchises are too short for operating companies to invest in new vehicles themselves.
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Post by john on Nov 30, 2009 13:59:13 GMT
Also, as an aside, I've never understood the jumping up and down for joy when any operator is replaced by another. At the end of the day, TUPE undertakings result in most of the staff who provided the service still providing the service working for new incumbent. So if they're bad apples with one hat on, they're still going to be the same bad apples, just with nice shiny new uniforms. Whilst the basic theory would be true in the latest case, it's not entirely fact this time round. Before National Express took over, services from Liverpool Street were operated by 3 different operators, First Great Eastern, WAGN and Anglia. I think WAGN were the ones operated by National Express but i can't remember who had Anglia, could have been Ned Railways.
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Post by snowman on Nov 30, 2009 14:26:45 GMT
Also, as an aside, I've never understood the jumping up and down for joy when any operator is replaced by another. At the end of the day, TUPE undertakings result in most of the staff who provided the service still providing the service working for new incumbent. So if they're bad apples with one hat on, they're still going to be the same bad apples, just with nice shiny new uniforms. Whilst the basic theory would be true in the latest case, it's not entirely fact this time round. Before National Express took over, services from Liverpool Street were operated by 3 different operators, First Great Eastern, WAGN and Anglia. I think WAGN were the ones operated by National Express but i can't remember who had Anglia, could have been Ned Railways. WAGN was Nat Express (who bought Prism rail, which was a management buyout). WAGN was split into (1)Liverpool St - West Anglia services and (2) Kings Cross/Moorgate suburban which joined Thameslink to become FCC) when franchise areas were changed. I think Anglia was part of GB Railways until it lost the franchise a few years ago, GB railways is now a freight Operator
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