South Eastern and West Coast Partnership bidders

This from the DfT...

South Eastern franchise

The companies which want to run the next South Eastern franchise are:

• South Eastern Holdings Ltd, a joint venture company that on franchise award will be wholly owned by Abellio Transport Group Ltd and East Japan Railway Company and Mitsui & Co Ltd
• London and South East Passenger Rail Services Lrd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Govia Ltd
• Stagecoach South Eastern Trains Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Stagecoach Group plc
• Trenitalia UK Ltd, wholly owned by Trenitalia SpA

West Coast Partnership franchise

The WCP will be responsible for services on the West Coast Main Line from April 2019 and will design and run the initial HS2 high speed services between London and Birmingham from 2026.

The shortlist contains bidding consortia which sees UK rail network experts working in partnership with companies that operate high speed railways around the globe, supported by businesses which have an excellent track record in customer services.

They are:

• First Trenitalia West Coast Ltd, a joint venture between First Rail Holdings Ltd and Trenitalia SpA
• MTR West Coast Partnership Ltd, a joint venture between MTR Corporation (UK) Ltd and Guangshen Railway Company, with the following key sub-contractors:
• Deloitte MCS Ltd
• Panasonic Systems Europe
• Snowfall AB
• Trainline.com Ltd
• WSP Parsons Brinkerhoff
• West Coast Partnership Ltd, a joint venture between Stagecoach Group plc, Virgin Holdings Ltd and SNCF C3

Can't help but feel that DfT must be disappointed by yet another small field, containing mostly the usual suspects, for these key competitions.

Raging against the SE twitter feed

This from SouthEastern's twitter feed...

person hit trains through Gillingham Kt & Faversham subject to 45 mins delay & canc #southeastern bit.ly/RBhKM8
— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) October 17, 2012

This is wrong on so many levels.

On the plus side SouthEastern now appears to have real people (or bots) at the end of their twitter feed who respond to customer requests for information.

As exhibited here:

@spacechopper Apologies for any delay that you incurred. We will have a look into this for you.
— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) October 17, 2012

Time to remove or improve the automatic feed?

Sealink resurrexit on the South Eastern

This from the Premier Gardner...

I thought it was just Sealink who displayed the BR logo this way round?


As they say proudly in East Sussex: 'Harwich for the Continent. Frant for Bells-Yew-Green'.

South Eastern passengers left in the dark

Sad news indeed for South Eastern passengers who rely on social media to plan their journeys.

According to the 853 blog @Train_Driver is no more!

The anonymous twitterer was famed for being the only reliable source of information on how South Eastern services were running (sic) during the recent adverse weather.

This for instance on the 30th November:


Of course South Eastern doesn't do social media.

This despite yesterday's wise words from Bill Emery of the ORR:

"Britain has recently experienced hostile weather conditions and all transport sectors have faced difficulties - but the regulator is clear that the rail industry can, and must, improve performance for passengers, particularly in providing useful and accurate information."

@Train_Driver - you will be sorely missed.

Villiers vignettes - improvements to South Eastern

This from Kentnews...

A government minister has refused to intervene in the ongoing rail fare dispute, stating the massive price hike was well within the rights of Kent’s berated train firm.

Conservative transport minister Theresa Villiers wrote to North Thanet MP Roger Gale saying she would not approach Southeastern boss Charles Horton on the issue.

In a letter to the senior Tory backbencher, Ms Villiers said the train company was allowed to increase fares by inflation plus three per cent rather than the normal one per cent to cover improvements made to the network.

Presumably Cruella had the recent adverse weather in mind when referring to 'improvements' made to South Eastern's network?

SouthEastern taking the PIS?

Enjoy...



More here.

Pointless signs - Charing Cross

Hitachi's IEP PR onslaught continues...

This exciting news from SouthEastern...

To celebrate the first anniversary of the launch of High Speed, Southeastern, Hitachi Rail Europe and Eversholt Rail will be available for interviews at St Pancras International between 08.00 and 10.00 on Monday 13 December.

Good news indeed!

Presumably Hitachi will be there in force to field the difficult questions on the trains' performance.

Which should leave SouthEastern free to explain why ridership is err... 'below expectations'?

Hitachi smooths over rough ride problems

This from Pooh Bah...

In Hitachi's latest advertisement, Charles Horton Southeastern MD describes the Class 395 as the smoothest new train launch in his 25 years in the railways.

His customers, being shaken and stirred, might question the use of that particular adjective.

South Eastern shows a caring side

This just in from from Our Man in Bradway Tunnel...

Nice to see that there are still youngsters who are excited by the railway.

This from the BBC...

"The parents of a boy who has run away to try to catch a train have asked railway staff to put up warning posters to stop him getting into danger."

I note the young gentleman has tried to buy a ticket to leave Marden.

Can't say I blame him.

It's heartening to read this, though:

"Railway staff at stations all along the line from Tonbridge to Ashford now have pictures of Toby to help them keep a lookout for him should he try to get on a train again."

A bowler tip to staff on South Eastern - clearly they are taking their duty to their passengers seriously.

Ford assaults Javelin - cleared for service

Congratulations to South Eastern for starting Javelin services six months early.

Whilst the official taster services won't commence until the 29th June, today saw a special run for hacks and others of the great and good.

The inaugural run from St Pancras to Ashford also saw the new class 395 fleet formally christened when the Chief Thumper, Roger Ford, undertook the traditional ceremony of "Assaulting the Interior Trim".

He pronounced himself satisfied.

Pity there are no power sockets though.

CORRECTION: This from the Major...

If The Fact Compiler hadn't been so busy elsewhere he might have noticed that the power sockets are between the seat by your knees.

Just check it's okay with the nice lady in the adjacent seat before plugging it in...

Southeastern savaged by dead sheep

This from today's Gruaniad:

The rail passenger watchdog has criticised Britain's first high-speed commuter service after it emerged that fares will cost up to a third more than on conventional routes.

Passenger Focus... expressed concerns over the fare increases.

"We would hope Southeastern would consider offering incentives and discounts to make the service more affordable," said Tunde Olatunji, Passenger Focus manager for Kent.

Presumably a terrified Charles Horton has cleared his diary and is busy recasting the fares manual this very morning.

Fall-Behind capitulates

Go-Ahead must still think they are in with a chance on the South Central franchise.

This from the Kent News...

Train company U-turns on carriage cuts

Fat chance, what with their splendid performance on London Midland and all.

Going, going, gone?

Timing as they say is everything.

Smart money suggested that Go-Ahead would keep it's head down after turning London Midland into a disaster zone in recent weeks.

So full marks to Go-Ahead for deciding to announce 300 job losses on the South Eastern today.

A move designed to gladden the hearts of Ministers battling growing unemployment figures, especially after Go-Ahead recorded profits of £131.1 million last year.

With DafT due to announce the winner of the South Central franchise in the summer, Go-Ahead must hope Ministers have short memories.....