The European Commission has approved Deutsche Bahn's takeover of Arriva.
Eye welcomes the renationalisation of Cross Country and Arriva Trains Wales.
A shame of course that any profit will now go to Berlin, rather than London or Cardiff.
What is happening at East Coast?
Not content with losing both the Engineering and the Commercial Director within the space of a week, it now appears as if the nationalised TOC is short one Head of Safety.
Fortunately Eye understands that the capable Vye Parminter will reappear in a similar role at FuCC.
You and Yours on BBC Radio 4 today promises an interview with "the woman who has taken over the East Coast Main Line".
As Eye is unsure whether this refers to Elaine Holt or Karen Boswell he will be listening in.
Tune in at 12:00.
UPDATE: Elaine Holt confirms on-air that there are "no plans to take on any more franchises".
Looks like the Noble Lord's Cross Default threat has been relegated to the pi$$ and wind department.
UPDATE: This from a pedantic Chionanthus virginicus...
I don't wish to be pedantic but Ms Holt actually said
"...there are no plans from my perspective to take in any more train companies..." .
Perhaps there may be others who do have plans...???
It's jolly easy to be clever with Listen Again! Eye stands corrected.
Despite My Lord Adonis consigning National Express' franchises to the dustbin of history the company is still looking on the bright side.
This from the National Express East Anglia press office (via email, sadly missing from their website)...
The Cromer Pier summer seaside special is on track as National Express teams up with the cast of the famous end-of-the-pier show in a unique double bill at Norwich station on Friday 10 July at 10.00am
Read that again...
National Express... teams up... end-of-the-pier show... double bill... 10th July!
Quicker even than the noble Lord had dared hope for!
Or perhaps it's just Beau Bowker's official leaving do.
UPDATE: This from Leo Pink...
Surely National Express would rather see the end of the 'peer' show?
This from PoliticsHome...
Lord Adonis 'also announced that Elaine Holt is the Chief Executive designate of the new East Coast rail line, and assured the Lords that “the government will receive the full revenues of a company that continues to make an operational profit”.'
The Fact Compiler congratulates yet another former First Group senior manager on making such a rapid transfer to the public sector.
Why it seems only three months ago that Elaine was MD of First Capital Connect.
Perhaps there is a chapter on Career Progression in Sir Moir's lovely book?
When National Express East Coast is brought back under state control the franchise will be run by the "Operator of Last Resort".
DafT put out an OJEU inviting organisations to bid for this role several months ago.
The contract is currently held by First Class Partnerships and was retendered, as is standard practice, after five years.
As yet there has been no announcement from the Department on whether FCP have retained the contract or a new supplier appointed.
The initial OJEU specified that any Operator of Last Resort should be able to run up to two franchises concurrently.
This was subsequently pulled and reissued with the requirement to operate six franchises concurrently.
What could DafT have had in mind?
National Express statement relating to East Coast Franchise:
Discussions with the UK Department for Transport ('DfT') have not secured an improved outlook for the East Coast franchise.
As a result, the loss-making East Coast rail franchise will continue to be supported by National Express in line with its franchise support commitments until the committed funding is fully utilised, expected to be later in 2009.
In the event that the Secretary of State for Transport ('Secretary of State') reassumes control of the franchise, National Express would work with the DfT to ensure an orderly handover and ensure that passengers, services and employees are unaffected.
The Group does not expect that such circumstances would result in cross default of the Group's other rail franchises.
The DfT may take a different view on NatEx's other franchises.
Posts
