Post by snoggle on Oct 3, 2013 13:03:33 GMT
The Department for Transport have announced that a 23 month franchise extension has been agreed with First Group in respect of the First Great Western franchise.
Announcement
Railway Gazette article
Interestingly this agreement was right up against the wire as the existing franchise is very close to its end date. Also there are no financial aspects announced which has caused some consternation from commentators given First opted not to take up a previous extension option which would have seen First paying vast sums to the Treasury. As there is only a short time extension there are not huge spending commitments - just small trinkets like on train wi-fi, changing seating on some trains and some station works. The slightly longer sleeper trains are paid for via other public funding.
Oddly there will be a further negotiated contract from 2015 to 2016 when it is intended to award a longer franchise following a full competition. Apart from the aftermath of the DfT cocking up the West Coast franchise this looks like the DfT stretching the award of a full franchise to the point where electrification works and the introduction of IEP trains is all done.
Announcement
Railway Gazette article
Interestingly this agreement was right up against the wire as the existing franchise is very close to its end date. Also there are no financial aspects announced which has caused some consternation from commentators given First opted not to take up a previous extension option which would have seen First paying vast sums to the Treasury. As there is only a short time extension there are not huge spending commitments - just small trinkets like on train wi-fi, changing seating on some trains and some station works. The slightly longer sleeper trains are paid for via other public funding.
Oddly there will be a further negotiated contract from 2015 to 2016 when it is intended to award a longer franchise following a full competition. Apart from the aftermath of the DfT cocking up the West Coast franchise this looks like the DfT stretching the award of a full franchise to the point where electrification works and the introduction of IEP trains is all done.