Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the Strategic Rail Authority on 2 April 2001.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has signed heads of terms with incumbent Stagecoach Holdings plc as the preferred counterparty for the new South West Trains replacement franchise. Under the new franchise agreement, a total of £1.7 billion will be committed over the first 15 years to implement much needed changes on this intensively used and overcrowded commuter network.

Currently, around 2.5 million passengers use the South West Trains network every week.

The focus of the investment proposal is to allow growth in passenger demand, increase reliability and punctuality, improve levels of customer satisfaction and reduce overcrowding. Highlights of the deal include more and longer trains, infrastructure improvements including platform extensions, more frequent services, and station upgrades to facilitate interchange with tube and bus.

The SRA has negotiated a tough deal with Stagecoach to deliver extra capacity, higher performance standards and a step change in quality of service for passengers. The original franchise is due to expire in February 2003; the new franchise will operate for 20 years, with provision for shortening the term to 15 years if later capacity schemes are not implemented.

From the start of the new franchise, Stagecoach will be subject to substantially increased penalty payments for poor performance. They have committed to providing better customer service and improved punctuality and reliability, and within the next ten years, aim to run 15 out of 16 trains on time each day, the equivalent of running 93.75% of all trains on time.

Stagecoach has committed, over the remainder of this year, to introduce new trains, take steps to improve security, accelerate training for staff, and improve customer information and to implement a range of other initiatives.

Safety

In line with the Health and Safety Executive’s requirement Stagecoach will replace all Mark 1, slam door rolling stock by 31 December 2004. All rolling stock in use after 2003 will be fitted with Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS). Stagecoach is committed to ensuring further continuous safety improvement.

Within the heads of terms, Stagecoach has detailed a set of schemes, which are intended to provide the users of South West Trains with the following benefits.

Early Benefits (by 2004)

• Investment in 800 new vehicles to replace the ageing Mark 1 stock by 2004, to increase the fleet and to help relieve overcrowding
• Stagecoach will undertake a programme to lengthen platforms at Waterloo and throughout the suburban system to allow the use of 10-car trains in place of the current 8-car trains. This will increase the peak capacity on most suburban routes by 25% by the end of 2004
• A recast timetable on the Windsor and Reading lines to provide 14 extra trains in each peak and give 15 minute service frequency on the Suburban lines through Hounslow and Putney
• Doubling of the Portsmouth to Southampton service frequency and provide a new service between Southampton and a re-opened station at Chandlers Ford
• Integrated transport projects including three new Rail link buses from Waterlooville to Petersfield, from Yately to Farnborough and from Alton to Winchester via Alresford. Existing Stagecoach bus services in Hampshire and Surrey will be re-organised to provide a Rail Connections Network. Timetables will be changed to improve rail connections, and there will be through ticketing

Longer Term Benefits

• The re-development by 2007 of Clapham Junction, one of the busiest interchange stations on the railway network. The upgrade is designed to make the station more comfortable and convenient for local passengers and for those who change trains. There will be a new overbridge or upper concourse with lift or escalator access to platform level, passenger lounges and improved passenger shelter on platforms
• Improvements at Waterloo Station to provide for the safe and convenient circulation of a growing number of passengers
• Upgrading of Wimbledon and Vauxhall stations to improve interchange with the Underground
• A programme of investments in infrastructure designed to overcome major causes of delays to trains. The programme includes installing stronger rail and more reliable signalling components on the most critical sections of the network (between Waterloo and New Malden, and between Havant and Portsmouth)
• Stagecoach is committed to providing 3,400 new car park spaces by May 2006
• Bringing facilities at all stations up to an improved standard to increase passenger comfort and personal security. CCTV will be installed at all stations and linked to the British Transport Police management information control centre. Waiting areas will be improved and toilets will be provided at all staffed stations. Stagecoach is committed to a phased programme to provide disabled access to all platforms by 2014

Also contained in the document are a set of aspirations. These are projects that will be brought forward subject to feasibility studies, and, where appropriate, passenger growth.

Aspirations

• Introduction of 16 car trains on long distance routes by extending platforms at Waterloo and other stations (2006)
• Extension of platforms 1-6 at Waterloo for 12 car suburban trains (2009)
• Various infrastructure schemes to ease delays, including new platforms at Havant and Portsmouth and Southsea (End 2009)
• Introduction of double deck trains between Waterloo , Guildford, Basingstoke, Chessington, Hampton Court and Kingston
• Restoring passenger services between Bournemouth and Swanage and between Southampton and Hythe, as well as doubling the frequency of services between Weymouth and Poole

Chief Executive of the SRA, Mike Grant said:

“I am delighted to announce the Heads of Terms for this exciting new franchise deal with Stagecoach. South West Trains is one of the South East’s most congested networks. Everyday thousands of passengers use it and the number is still increasing.”

“I believe the Stagecoach deal includes significant passenger benefits and addresses the key issues that affect passengers at an early stage. It represents a commitment to help resolve capacity problems on the busiest rail network in Britain, while keeping disruption to services to the minimum. Stagecoach have learned lessons from their existing tenure, and acknowledge the need for further progress. Passengers can now look forward to a step change in customer service.”

“Investment is the key to improving the rail network, and as part of the deal, around £700 million will be invested in new trains, most of which are planned to be in service by 2004. A further £1 billion will be invested in new infrastructure to help ease congestion problems and to improve reliability.”

“The decision to select Stagecoach was a tough one. It was a highly competitive process, offering us a choice of strong proposals. However, we are confident we have made the right decision and I look forward to substantially improved performance from Stagecoach and the South West Trains franchise going forward.”

Chairman of the SRA, Sir Alastair Morton, said:

“With this decision for South West Trains, we have taken a crucial step in the franchise replacement programme described in our Strategic Agenda. I look forward to the SRA agreeing a number of others this year.”

“New investment is key to the success of the rail industry and rolling stock replacement plays a major part, as this deal demonstrates. I am pleased by the benefits generated from competitive bidding; in particular, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch State Railways) joined FirstGroup in submitting a very challenging bid. I hope we shall see more from them.”

“Change cannot happen overnight, but over the next few years passengers on the South West Trains franchise will see marked improvements to their service.”

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 9 May 2001.

The Strategic Rail Authority stated today that its evaluation of the latest proposals for the replacement franchise for the East Coast Main Line had not yet resolved all areas of concern. Specific issues outstanding include technical feasibility and value for money, financial risk and the extent to which proposals are deliverable while maintaining and improving services on this key long distance route. The two proposals are from GNER Holdings and Virgin Stagecoach.

The SRA is completing a detailed examination of both proposals before a final decision is submitted to the Government returned early in June. The replacement East Coast Main Line franchise is planned to be of 20 year duration and is as significant to Britain’s rail system as the West Coast Main Line franchise, held by Virgin Trains.

The final decision on the preferred bidder is not expected to affect progress on the upgrade of the East Coast Main Line infrastructure which, as already announced, will be a joint venture led by the SRA with Railtrack, the new franchise operator for the route when selected, and other private sector investors. Work on the upgrade is well under way.

The press release issued by the Strategic Rail Authority on 24 August 2001.

The SRA is working with new operators GoVia to ensure passengers receive a better journey experience on the intensive South Central commuter network. GoVia is expected to assume operation of the London to South Coast franchise on Sunday 26th August.

A series of major enhancements to boost capacity and improve service frequency and comfort, worth £1.5billion, are planned under a new 20 year deal being negotiated by the SRA. The change of operator follows a commercial agreement between GoVia and Connex Transport (UK) Ltd, on the remaining two years of the current franchise, which has run since May 1996.

Commenting on the changeover, SRA Chief Executive Mike Grant, said:

“This will be a first step towards future improvement for South Central’s passengers, many of whom daily experience both overcrowding and old rolling stock on this intensively used and capacity constrained commuter network. Substantial improvements will come about during 2002 when 400 of the 1,000 planned new modern vehicles are expected to begin to replace slam door trains

“Negotiations will continue between the SRA and GoVia towards a new 20 year franchise agreement. A total sum of £1.5billion investment is planned for the franchise, including major track upgrades on the main line to Brighton and the Arun Valley line”.

The press release issued by the Strategic Rail Authority on 13 September 2001.

The current Wales & West rail franchise is to be split into two managerial units, broadly covering its Welsh and English operations respectively, following agreement between the Strategic Rail Authority and National Express Group, owners of the franchise.

The Welsh services, along with the Valley Lines services, will be managed from Cardiff. They will operate under the ‘Wales & Borders’ branding.

The West Country services are to be managed from Exeter and will be operated under a ‘Wessex Trains’ branding. The ‘Wessex Trains’ HQ in Exeter is a new development, and staff are currently being recruited by National Express Group for positions there.

Passengers will begin to notice the new branding of services with the introduction of the Winter timetable on 30th September 2001.

The press release issued by the Strategic Rail Authority on 14 September 2001.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) today announced that it is funding £17.5 million of development work for phase two of the project to upgrade the East Coast Main Line between London, Leeds and Edinburgh.

Led by the SRA and carried out by Railtrack, the work, which should be completed by December, maintains the gathering momentum on this vital infrastructure project.

Over 20 different projects will be covered. Key elements include: –

• Peterborough area – Feasibility studies for remodelling track in the station area to increase capacity, including overhead line electrification, signalling and civil engineering design.
• Freight priority routes – Survey work to track and structures, assessment of gauge clearances and level crossings.
  • GN/GE ‘Joint Line’ (Peterborough – Spalding – Lincoln – Doncaster)
  • Doncaster – York
  • Northallerton – Ferryhill (via Yarm & Stockton)
  • Leamside Line (Ferryhill – Washington – Pelaw – Gateshead)
• Peterborough – Edinburgh additional track capacity – Feasibility studies to evaluate options for additional passing loops and improving existing ones at eleven locations.

This is the first major agreement between the SRA and Railtrack for the ECML Upgrade since the SRA announced in April 2001 that it would establish a Joint Venture to take forward funding for the project.

SRA Chief Executive, Mike Grant said,

” It is vital that the current and future capacity shortfalls on East Coast are tackled through the upgrade programme, overall responsibility for which has now transferred from Railtrack to the Authority.

” We are taking the lead on development work now to ensure that, once the Leeds work is finished, momentum is maintained towards bringing the other elements of this massive engineering project in on time”.

Railtrack’s Chief Executive, Steve Marshall said,

“We are delighted to be working with the SRA to develop this enhancement project that will, once complete, provide enormous benefits for the travelling public.”

The press release issued by the Strategic Rail Authority on 14 September 2001.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has welcomed Transport Secretary Stephen Byer’s announcement today that it should move forward with proposals for a new TransPennine Express franchise.

The franchise has been developed by the SRA to provide fast, frequent and high quality intercity train services on this important freight and passenger route between major population centres in the North of England.

The SRA will now start formal consultation with five local Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs) regarding the franchise. Once this process is completed, the three shortlisted parties for the franchise will be asked to resubmit their proposals, taking account of revised baseline requirements and potential additional passenger benefits identified during the consultation.

Mike Grant, SRA Chief Executive, said:

“We are pleased that the Minister has endorsed the TransPennine Express concept, which the SRA has been developing since June 2000. The franchise will deliver tangible benefits to travellers in the North of England, with fast and frequent services within the congested M62 corridor. We can now move forward to further refine the franchise proposition, following discussion with the Government and the Passenger Transport Executives.

“Today’s announcement will assist in the further development of the new Northern franchise, incorporating the regions’ rural and urban services”.

The press release issued by the Strategic Rail Authority on 19 December 2001.

The press release issued by the Strategic Rail Authority on 19 December 2001.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) today gave the green light to re-starting the refranchising programme for passenger rail services, and at the same time invited expressions of interest for three new franchises.

SRA Chairman Richard Bowker said:

“Today’s announcement breaks the logjam and will help to stabilise and restore confidence within the rail industry. This ‘horses for courses’ approach means we can move forward quickly and secure some early benefits for passengers, while also putting in place plans for the medium to long term. The new policy has been extensively discussed with the industry and with Government, and is both practical and deliverable”.

The new programme provides clarity for train operators competing for franchises and is fully aligned with the Government’s new policy issued today. Designed to deliver the Government’s objectives of 50% growth and a reduction in overcrowding, the plans reflect the different needs of each franchise.

The policy provides a balance between short-term extensions and long-term commitments. Details are set out, franchise by franchise, in the Annex to this release. Clear guidance will be given to parties on the core requirements of a franchise, whilst leaving scope for innovation. Wherever franchises are replaced or extended, new contract terms will target provision of better facilities, higher performance incentives for operators and better compensation arrangements for passengers when things go wrong. Further details on the franchising programme will be set out in the SRA’s Strategic Plan, to be published on 14 January 2002.

The length of new franchises will depend, amongst other things, on the investment needs of the franchise and the level of risk to be borne by the franchisee. It is also very important to establish structures which allow good quality operators to take a longer term view of their business and the needs of their customers. Where long-term franchises are appropriate these are likely to be up to 15 years (in line with emerging EU requirements) but, crucially, will be dependent upon delivering operational performance targets. Because this represents a considerable development in franchising policy the SRA will be consulting with passenger committees and key stakeholders on the proposed franchise term. Franchises would end after five or ten years if the conditions were not met.

The SRA is also looking at the longer-term benefits of combining franchises and a simpler structure. In particular, where two or more franchises share access to a London terminal, combination might produce benefits for passengers. It may allow better use to be made of available capacity, and would simplify the timetable planning process and contractual relationships, with the aim of producing a more reliable, cohesive and attractive service for passengers. Over the next two months, the SRA will be consulting train operators, passenger committees, TfL and regional and local authorities on the value of combining franchises in such a way.
As a first step towards simplification, the franchise plan includes the creation of a ‘Greater Anglia’ franchise from 2004, through the grouping of Anglia, Great Eastern, and the “West Anglia” part of WAGN (Liverpool Street – Cambridge/Hertford/Enfield/Chingford) franchises. A separate management unit will be established in Norwich to ensure local accountability and focus on local services in Norfolk and Suffolk. Work will also start next year on drawing up plans for new trains for the Norwich – London service, to be procured once the new franchise is created in 2004.

Details of all the franchises are set out in the Annex below and in the attached list of franchised services. The Annex lists franchises for replacement and those for possible two-year extension, subject to negotiation of satisfactory terms which provide benefits for passengers and value for money for the taxpayer.

Also listed are the franchises moving to expiry, but short-term improvements here may be sought through the Rail Passenger Partnership fund or through contractual agreement with the franchisee.

The SRA is also restarting the new Wales & Borders franchise as a matter of priority, following discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government. Expressions of interest are being invited today. The Authority hopes to announce a preferred bidder by Autumn 2002, and to have a new franchise in place by early 2003.

Expressions of interest are also being invited today in the Northern and Merseyside franchises. Discussions are in hand with the Merseyside PTE and DTLR on the possible future transfer of responsibility for the Merseyside franchise to the PTE.

Interested parties should write to Nick Newton, SRA, 55 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0EU, by 11 January 2002 (regarding Wales and Borders) and by 15 February 2002 (regarding the Northern and Merseyside franchises).

The press release issued by the Strategic Rail Authority on 16 January 2002.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) today announced that it had concluded negotiations with GNER Holdings Ltd and its subsidiary Great North Eastern Railways Ltd for a two-year extension of its existing Inter City East Coast franchise, which links London to key cities in Scotland and the North East via the East Midlands and Yorkshire.

Some £100m of investment is being committed by GNER and its partners, delivering a number of significant ‘quick wins’ for passengers. Improvements include a planned 11 additional services between London and Leeds; £10m for station and passenger information improvements; better facilities for disabled passengers; improved performance, compensation & customer satisfaction regimes; and a minimum £16m contribution from GNER to infrastructure improvements. More than £50m is being committed by GNER to rolling stock, including the leasing of two additional train sets and six new recovery locomotives; refurbishment of all passenger carriages and the lengthening of the diesel High Speed Trains, expected to provide an additional 70 seats per train by the end of 2003. In addition, the investment package includes £20m to improve the reliability of the electric locomotives.

Today’s agreement extends the existing seven-year franchise by two years to April 2005, and follows the Transport Secretary’s invitation to the SRA in July 2001 to negotiate an extension.

Richard Bowker, Chairman of the SRA, said: “This deal requires no extra subsidy and is being funded entirely within the private sector. The improvements agreed today for delivery over the next three years will make a real difference to passengers along the whole of GNER’s route – with more comfortable, more reliable, more frequent and more spacious trains.

“This is the second piece of good news for passengers on this route, following the publication of our Strategic Plan on Monday, which confirmed that the SRA is prioritising the upgrade of the Line to provide a major increase in its capacity.”

GNER Commitments

Additional Leeds services from June 2002
GNER propose to divert and supplement its White Rose service to provide eleven extra one-way trains on the Leeds to London route each day. This has been a longstanding ambition for GNER and has been made possible by the ‘Leeds First’ engineering work and additional funding from the SRA.

£10m investment in station improvements by end 2003
Includes upgraded passenger lounges at York, Doncaster & Peterborough; refurbished subways at Doncaster, York & Darlington; additional customer information systems & ticket office windows, accessibility improvements, refurbished toilets, 450 additional car parking spaces and improved cycle storage facilities. All GNER stations will be brought up to DTLR ‘Secure Station’ standard, and most station car parks to AA ‘Gold Standard’ status.

Lengthening & improvements to all High Speed Trains (HSTs) by end 2003
Includes a number of alterations to locomotives to improve reliability and increase luggage and cycle space; some refurbishment of carriage interiors including seats, catering facilities and toilets; and improved facilities for the disabled. These trains are principally used on non-electrified routes to, Bradford, Harrogate, Hull, Aberdeen and Inverness.

Refurbishment of all Intercity 225 carriages by April 2005
Includes complete renewal of carriage interiors; improvement of ride comfort; rebuilding of all toilets; modernisation of restaurant cars; and improved facilities for the disabled.

Additional trains and recovery locomotives
GNER will lease two additional train sets – one from May 2002 and another in May 2003 – to maintain services during refurbishment and to replace the train lost at Great Heck. It will also replace its five recovery locomotives with six new or rebuilt locomotives, to ensure more rapid recovery of failed trains and the swift restoration of subsequent services.

Improved performance, compensation & customer satisfaction regimes
GNER is the first long distance high speed operator to commit to these new SRA standards. An improved incentive regime will require at least 81% of trains on time from April 2003, rising to 83% from April 2004. From April 2003 the company will introduce passenger refunds of 50% for lateness of 45-89 minutes, and full refunds for 90 minutes upwards. The SRA’s National Passenger Survey will be built into the contract from April 2003, which could require up to an additional £3.5m to be spent on customer satisfaction improvements.

East Coast Main Line Infrastructure
As part of today’s agreement, GNER will contribute £16m to be spent on East Coast Main Line (ECML) infrastructure works to improve performance and/or capacity. The detail of these works will be agreed in due course. The deal also includes a ‘benefit share’ of any excess profits from the franchise, which the SRA has committed to invest in ECML infrastructure improvements.

Driver Recruitment
The agreement commits GNER to a programme of driver recruitment to help overcome the current driver shortage within the rail industry.