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![]() Railhub Archive | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Strategic Rail AuthoritySir Alastair Morton sets out map for UK rail
focussed on customers' needs, local accountability, and best operational fit - were put into context by SSRA Chairman, Sir Alastair Morton today. The current refranchising process paves the way for further progress with the replacement of the 18 short term franchises and is a big step towards the development of a 20 year strategy for the railway. The full shape of Britain's railway services, which follows extensive consultation, is based on the creation of three distinct service groupings - long distance, high speed (expanded from InterCity); London Commuter, and Regional services. The final detailed shape of the franchises created within the groups will only be set once bidders' plans have been considered and following consultation with key stakeholders. Announcing plans for changes required to complete the map, Sir Alastair said: " Our guiding principle is to improve service, not to introduce change for change's sake. What we are proposing is a map that will revitalise the network, with franchise areas designed to relate better to each other and to provide improved accessibility for passengers. People are now using rail in the largest numbers for 50 years - the changes we are proposing are intended to ensure sufficient capacity and investment to ensure this trend continues to provide for 50% growth in travel in the coming decade". The main alterations and amalgamations covered by the new franchise map include: Trans Pennine Express: Upgraded to long distance high speed status. Northern: Will combine local and Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) services currently run by First North Western and Northern Spirit. It will focus strongly on working with PTEs, with a dedicated business unit for each PTE area. Wales and the borders: Would replace four existing franchises which have no clear focus. This is widely supported, consultation is underway and a decision to proceed is expected next month. Thameslink 2000: A new franchise to provide a larger group of cross - London services, running directly to a wider range of central London destinations. West Anglia Great Eastern: re uniting a logical grouping of services and simplifying operations in and out of Liverpool Street. Consequential and other significant changes to other franchises are already in the public domain, but were reviewed by Sir Alastair and SSRA Chief Executive, Mike Grant, at a press briefing today. Replacement of the shorter term franchises, expiring by 2004, should be completed in 2001. The process is already underway on Chiltern, East Coast Mainline, South Central, South West, Central and Trans Pennine Express. The next franchise to be put up for replacement will be Thameslink, to be followed by a decision on Wales Rail. In particular, stakeholders in the English services of Wales and West will be consulted and their concerns addressed. There is a potential Wessex franchise covering interurban and local services between the West Midlands and the South Coast. Mike Grant outlined the rationale behind today's announcement and the next moves……… " Our plans take forward the franchise replacement programme through to its completion before the end of next year, meaning selection and agreement on principal terms by autumn 2001. " We have indicated the strategy and approach we want to adopt on re - drawing those parts of the franchise map which need to change to achieve a better grouping of service patterns than emerged at privatisation. "We have tapped the views of all affected stakeholders and made a substantial step forward in the provision of improved passenger rail services for this, and the following decade. " The emphasis now is on early delivery of the proposals following proper consultation. The aim is to secure the investment to make it all happen. You can expect the SSRA to be driving this process forward as quickly as is reasonable." Notes to Editors 1. A national map of the broad regional areas for the new franchise plan is attached. Separate maps depicting the proposed regional implications of the changes can be obtained from the SSRA press office 2. The SSRA's objective has been to establish stronger train operating companies with longer franchises and the ability to invest to provide extra capacity and higher quality services to meet growing demand. 3. Following today's announcement, of the current 25 passenger rail businesses, changes are proposed for six, seven new franchises would be created, three would be incorporated in other franchises and nine remain unchanged, reducing the total number of franchises to 22. 4. The complete list of the re drawn franchises is as follows: Long Distance High Speed Virgin West Coast* East Coast Midland Main Line* Great Western* Anglia /Humber Virgin Cross Country* Trans Pennine Express Regional Interurban ScotRail Northern Wales/borders Central Trains Wessex Rail London Commuter Connex South Eastern* South Central South Western Thames Chiltern Silverlink County Thameslink 2000 West Anglia Great Eastern LTS* Airport Express Gatwick Express* (possibly with Stansted Skytrain and a marketing link with with Heathrow Express). * Longer (10 - 15 year) franchise already awarded. [[There is no paragraph 5 in this document]] 6. For Merseyrail Electrics, SSRA is discussing with the PTE a proposal that they should become the franchising authority. The electric lines on Merseyside are virtually separate from the rest of the network and it seems far better that this specialised operation, which is not part of the strategic national network, should be under closer local control and accountability. 7. SSRA has initiated discussions with the Isle of Wight Council for greater local accountability and control of the Island Line. It is a unique railway - not part of the national strategic network - which might be franchised locally as part of an integrated transport strategy for the Island. 8. The Franchising Director can exercise his right to allow the existing franchises to run to expiry and re-tender if acceptable replacement terms cannot be agreed either with the incumbent or a new bidder. 9. The existing 25 passenger rail franchises are shown below: CURRENT TRAIN OPERATING COMPANIES AND FRANCHISEES - 20.06.00 Franchise Franchisee Franchise Length Start Finish Anglia Railways GB Railways Group Plc. 7 yrs 3 mth 1.97 4.04 Cardiff Railway Prism Rail PLC. 5 yrs 3 mth 10.96 3.01 Central Trains National Express Group PLC. 7 yrs 1 mth 3.97 4.04 Chiltern Railways M40 Trains Limited (John Laing plc). 7 yrs 7.96 7.03 Connex South Central Connex Rail Limited (subsidiary 7 yrs 5.96 of Vivendi SA). Connex South Eastern Connex Rail Limited (subsidiary 15 yrs 10.96 10.11 of Vivendi SA). CrossCountry Virgin Rail Group Limited. 15 yrs 1.97 4.12 Gatwick Express National Express Group PLC. 15 yrs 4.96 5.11 Great Eastern FirstGroup plc. 7 yrs 3 mth 1.97 4.04 Great North Eastern Railway GNER Holdings Limited 7 yrs 4.96 4.03 (subsidiary of Sea Containers Ltd.) Great Western Great Western Holdings Limited 10 yrs 2.96 2.06 (subsidiary of FirstGroup plc). Island Line Stagecoach Holdings plc. 5 yrs 10.96 10.01 LTS Rail Prism Rail PLC. 15 yrs 5.96 5.11 Merseyrail Electrics ARRIVA plc. 1 yr. 2.00 2.01 Midland Mainline National Express Group PLC. 10 yrs 4.96 4.06 North Western Trains Great Western Holdings Limited 7 yrs 1 mth 3.97 4.04 (subsidiary of FirstGroup plc). Northern Spirit ARRIVA plc. 1 yr. 2.00 2.01 ScotRail National Express Group PLC. 7 yrs 3.97 4.04 Silverlink National Express Group PLC. 7 yrs 6 mth 3.97 10.04 South West Trains Stagecoach Holdings plc. 7 yrs 2.96 2.03 Thames Trains Victory Railways Holdings Limited 7 yrs 6 mth 10.96 4.04 (subsidiary of The Go-Ahead Group Plc). Thameslink GOVIA Limited (Go-Ahead Group 7 yrs 1 mth 3.97 4.04 and Via G.T.I. SA). Wales & West Prism Rail PLC. 5 yrs 3 mth 10.96 3.01 West Anglia Prism Rail PLC. 7 yrs 3 mth 1.97 4.04 Great Northern Prism Rail PLC. 5 yrs 3 mth 1.97 3.01 West Coast Trains Virgin Rail Group Limited. 15 yrs 3.97 03.12 Important Notice This news release is issued by the Franchising Director and its contents have been approved for the purposes of section 57 of the Financial Services Act 1986 by KPMG Corporate Finance. KPMG Corporate Finance is a division of KPMG which is authorised to carry on investment business by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. This news release has been prepared for general information purposes only and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or constitute an offer or i nvitation to bid for any passenger rail franchise or to acquire shares in a train operating company. Neither this news release nor any copy of it should be taken into or distributed in Canada, France, Japan or the United States except in accordance with an applicable exemption. The distribution of this news release in other jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this news release comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. KPMG Corporate Finance is acting for the Franchising Director and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to passenger railway franchising or be responsible to anyone other than the Franchising Director for providing the protections afforded to clients of KPMG Corporate Finance nor for advising any other person on the contents of this news release or any matter referred to in it.
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