Nexus drives another nail into the IEP coffin

Eye hears that DB Regio has managed to coax Richard McClean into becoming Managing Director of its new Nexus operating concession.

Stalwart of the intercity East Coast franchise, in many of its several guises, Richard's latest role was as nationalised East Coast's IEP Project Director.

Perhaps no surprise, therefore, that he has opted for a job with a future.

UPDATE: This from our man at 222 Marylebone Road...

It is arguable that after wasting (oops, investing) £21 million on consultants for IEP, the second most scandalous feature of the new train was the appointment of one of our few remaining experienced project engineers/managers to such a non job.

UPDATE: This from Ibilola...

The Northern Echo ran the following story on Thursday:

A DECISION over whether the North-East will be the location for a train assembly plant – creating hundreds of jobs – has yet to be made, nearly a year after the original announcement.

Is there anyone who still believes that an order for IEP will ever be placed?

Nexus update - DB uber Nexus...

This from the Railway Gazette...

Nexus named Deutsche Bahn subsidiary DB Regio (Tyne and Wear) Ltd as preferred bidder for a contract to operate the Tyne & Wear Metro on December 3.

Willkommen!

Nexus concession to be announced today

***Winner of the Nexus concession expected to be announced at 17:00 today***

Nexus concession

***Announcement on the Nexus Concession due out at 16:30 today***

UPDATE: Shortlist announced:

DB Regio Tyne and Wear Limited and Metro (In House Bid)

The two bidders will now be asked to revise and confirm their detailed tenders.

A single preferred bidder is expected to be named by Nexus in January 2010 ahead of the concession start date.
.

Chinese take-away

***RMT saying MTR out of bidding for Tyne and Wear metro***

Nexus "not being privatised".

One of the bidders for the Tyne & Wear Metro may be about to drop out according to NEBusiness:

Last night The Journal was informed of rumours one bidder was preparing to pull out of the bidding process, a claim Nexus said it could not comment on.

There are currently four bidders for the Tyne & Wear metro concession: Deutsche-Bahn, Serco-Ned Rail, MTR Corporation and an in-house Nexus team.

Tyne Bridge MP David Clelland, who as a member of the transport select committee should know better, claimed that Nexus "...is not being privatised".

Which means that he is either deluded or that the smart money is on the in-house team.