Time to pick up the gauntlet thrown down by Tom Harris yesterday.
Tom invited the Major to "take a look at any Invitation to Tender and you will see that the DfT does not specify rolling stock."
Time for a swift reality check.
Section 3.5.3 from the South Central ITT seems to support this thesis, but note the reference to Section 54, which means that if the franchise doesn't want the trains, DafT still has to pay the rentals to the money grubbing ROSCOs who, perhaps rashly, have invested millions on the basis that someone is going to use the kit for more than the seven years of a franchise.
And then, bidders are told that they will have to hire three units to FCC.
Told by whom? By DafT which Tom says "does not specify rolling stock".
See below for chapter and verse:
3.5.3 Specific Rolling Stock Requirements
Bidders are free to propose whatever rolling stock solution they believe best meets the requirements of the franchise. Details of the Section 54 and equivalent undertakings that the Government has made in relation to rolling stock are provided in folder 6.3.5 in the data site.
The risk-adjusted premium/subsidy for any Bidders opting not to rent this rolling stock during the currency of these undertakings will be varied to account for the additional cost committed by the Department
3.5.3.1 Rolling Stock Cascades
As specified in section 3.3.1.3.3 Bidders will be required to hire 3 x 4 car dual voltage units to FCC from December 2011. Bidders should assume that this arrangement ceases in September 2013..
The return of the 3 units hired to FCC and cascade of the further 92 vehicles is dependent on these trains being displaced from FCC services by new build Thameslink Key Output 2 rolling stock. The return dates assumed above represent the current plan but the programme for building and commissioning of the new trains is not yet confirmed. Bidders are required to provide alternative pricing scenarios if Class 377 hand back has to be delayed. A separate technical instruction provides the detailed requirements in this area
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