02/10/2012, 23:19
02/10/2012, 23:41
West Coast Main Line deal ditched
The bidding process for the West Coast Main Line rail franchise is to be re-run after the government admitted getting its figures seriously wrong.
The contract to run services on the line - one of Britain's busiest - was awarded to FirstGroup in August.
That decision was challenged in the courts by Virgin Trains, which lost out.
Now civil servants have found significant mistakes in the way they calculated the risks for each bid.
The bidding process for the West Coast Main Line rail franchise is to be re-run after the government admitted getting its figures seriously wrong.
The contract to run services on the line - one of Britain's busiest - was awarded to FirstGroup in August.
That decision was challenged in the courts by Virgin Trains, which lost out.
Now civil servants have found significant mistakes in the way they calculated the risks for each bid.
06/10/2012, 17:26
Apparently the DfT are in negotiations with Virgin Trains to see if they can agree terms for VT to continue running West Coast trains for the time being.
What would be the ultimate farce would be if the DfT let DOR take over West Coast in December, then find the next Virgin bid the best, and let Virgin run it again. Hence my belief that Virgin should keep West Coast in the meantime.
What would be the ultimate farce would be if the DfT let DOR take over West Coast in December, then find the next Virgin bid the best, and let Virgin run it again. Hence my belief that Virgin should keep West Coast in the meantime.
06/10/2012, 18:14
Its more to do with the fact that there is no chance in hell that DOR can be legally ready in time for Dec 9th.
It was always touch and go while they were piggy-backing on the First mobilisation - ie. exactly the same strategy and documents apart from the names etc.
120 days for mobilisation was quoted, they started around 85/90....
Plus DOR still hadn't even applied to ORR for a Safety Case.
It was always touch and go while they were piggy-backing on the First mobilisation - ie. exactly the same strategy and documents apart from the names etc.
120 days for mobilisation was quoted, they started around 85/90....
Plus DOR still hadn't even applied to ORR for a Safety Case.
06/10/2012, 18:17
(06/10/2012 17:26)Metroline1511 Wrote: [ -> ]Apparently the DfT are in negotiations with Virgin Trains to see if they can agree terms for VT to continue running West Coast trains for the time being.
What would be the ultimate farce would be if the DfT let DOR take over West Coast in December, then find the next Virgin bid the best, and let Virgin run it again. Hence my belief that Virgin should keep West Coast in the meantime.
Lets just see how long the West Coast franchise is delayed because of these problems , my guess is that the other two franchises now with more pressing problems will take preference East Coast and Great Western. East Coast because its being run by the Government and Great Western because of the electrification of the GWML.
06/10/2012, 20:22
Electrification of the GWML is detailed in the ITT so that's not a 'problem'.
Things will be on hold for a good long while - for the sound of things there's a lot of nasty surprises to come out of the wookwork at the DaFT.
Things will be on hold for a good long while - for the sound of things there's a lot of nasty surprises to come out of the wookwork at the DaFT.
06/10/2012, 21:06
No franchises will be signed off until after January/February 2013.
DOR has to legally take over from the incumbent due to EU competition/tendering laws/rules/policies etc. You can't basically grant an extension without putting it out to tender, (which they can't do, as they messed up the processes to do so).
That said, Network Rail should be unaffected and the GWML electrification program probably won't be affected.
DOR has to legally take over from the incumbent due to EU competition/tendering laws/rules/policies etc. You can't basically grant an extension without putting it out to tender, (which they can't do, as they messed up the processes to do so).
That said, Network Rail should be unaffected and the GWML electrification program probably won't be affected.
06/10/2012, 22:38
DOR *can't* take over as they don't have a Safety Case.
There is nothing wrong with extending Virgins franchise by a few months - its a different issue if they were extending it by years however. Just look at the extension they were granted from March.
There is nothing wrong with extending Virgins franchise by a few months - its a different issue if they were extending it by years however. Just look at the extension they were granted from March.
07/10/2012, 00:14
(06/10/2012 22:38)mbonwick Wrote: [ -> ]DOR *can't* take over as they don't have a Safety Case.
There is nothing wrong with extending Virgins franchise by a few months - its a different issue if they were extending it by years however. Just look at the extension they were granted from March.
It is illegal under EU Law for Virgin to continue.
DOR will be taking over. They are the Operator of Last Resort and have been preparing to take control since the franchise announcement was leaked back in August.
You can't just grant a private company an multi million pound extension, when no contractual term allows for such.
First Class partnerships are assisting in the process... :/
Incidentally, S.30(b) Railways Act 1993, forces and authorises the government to implement DOR in the event that a franchise agreement has not been reached.
As they are not prepared to issue any further franchise agreements, there is no other legal option other than to invoke 30(b).
20/10/2012, 14:28
Virgin Trains like to keep there name in the news , this time involving Chancellor George Osborne travelling from Wilmslow to London Euston.