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Post by snoggle on Mar 23, 2015 10:10:39 GMT
The Direct Award to extend the Great Western franchise through to 2019 has been announced today. First Group remain the operator although it seems GWR is going to become the brand for the franchise. On top of the long planned electrification and IEPs there are plans for more trains across the franchise, a cascade of the DMUs to the South West plus cascaded and new EMUs for the Thames Valley route. Apparently even the West Ealing - Greenford line will see frequency and timetable improvements in two stages in 2017 and 2018. There is also a plan for an extra fleet of bi-mode Hitachi trains to replace IC125 trains on trains to the far South West. www.railwaygazette.com/news/policy/single-view/view/first-great-western-plans-at300s-to-cornwall.htm |
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Post by Nathan on Mar 23, 2015 10:39:04 GMT
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Post by snowman on Mar 23, 2015 16:47:35 GMT
The 58 four car EMUs are :
21 class 365 currently on Kings Cross line
29 class 387/1 currently as stopgap on Thameslink
8 new class 387/1 (tfr of the option on new Gatwick Express fleet)
It doesn't say in the Railway Gazette article, but it has been reported elsewhere that the 387s will be 110mph for Oxford and Newbury services so presumably the 365s are for stopping services (along with the crossrail fleet). There is rumoured to be also possibly an electric service Reading - Basingstoke if line is electrified for freight
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Post by snoggle on Mar 23, 2015 17:06:12 GMT
The 58 four car EMUs are : 21 class 365 currently on Kings Cross line 29 class 387/1 currently as stopgap on Thameslink 8 new class 387/1 (tfr of the option on new Gatwick Express fleet) It doesn't say in the Railway Gazette article, but it has been reported elsewhere that the 387s will be 110mph for Oxford and Newbury services so presumably the 365s are for stopping services (along with the crossrail fleet). There is rumoured to be also possibly an electric service Reading - Basingstoke if line is electrified for freight Not a rumour about Basingstoke - confirmed in the interactive franchise map that lists the benefits for each route from this direct award. It also seems the planned electrification of the Marlow branch has been dumped as no EMUs are shown for that service whereas they are for Henley and Windsor branches. I do wish the DfT would actually publish the full information they have so people aren't left to speculate or wait for the journalists to dig out the info. |
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Post by T.R. on Mar 23, 2015 18:56:23 GMT
Makes sense for FGW to keep it until then, allows the franchise to be re-let after the upgrades.
Reading-Basingstoke is meant to be wired as part of the Electric Spine project but I'm hearing that's slipped as well.
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Post by snoggle on Mar 23, 2015 19:22:43 GMT
Makes sense for FGW to keep it until then, allows the franchise to be re-let after the upgrades. Reading-Basingstoke is meant to be wired as part of the Electric Spine project but I'm hearing that's slipped as well. I've read that Reading - Basingstoke has been moved to the Thames Valley electrification project scope so decoupled from any delays with the Electric Spine. Although I've not seen any detailed numbers of franchise payments for the new award it seems each time First Group get a new term the level of premium reduces. Clearly there has been a lot more risk in recent years and will be for another 4 so less scope to make massive money due to the frequent service changes. |
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