dvp82 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 First Group pay £6.5 billion to run the West Coast franchise for the next 14 years. That's a huge amount of money to be paying, surely this will just turn into another National Express East Coast situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddysbuddy Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 First Group pay £6.5 billion to run the West Coast franchise for the next 14 years. That's a huge amount of money to be paying, surely this will just turn into another National Express East Coast situation. so what will they need to charge to get their money back and make a profit?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matssundin13 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 From what I gather, they've already overpaid. Virgin didn't do an extraordinary job, but they did a good job based on the infrastructure. FirstGroup are a bit hit and miss. They do well with ScotRail and transpennine express. However, they do a shocking job with Hull Trains and Great Western. Rumour has it that they plan to bail on the Great Western route. I believe they plan to run the west coast under the name Horizon Trains or something similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alchresearch Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 They'd planned to reduce the services from Manchester Airport to Barrow and other Cumbrian stations, but have had to change their plans after complaints. And the RMT claim that 20% job cuts and some tax dodging are also present: http://www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.co.uk/runcorn-widnes-news/runcorn-widnes-local-news/2012/08/09/rmt-and-first-in-row-over-west-coat-rail-franchise-55368-31576070/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikes10 Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 I wouldn't be supprised if they increased passenger capacity by ripping out all the seating and installed overhead grap-straps and grap bars. Of course that will only be in 1st class. Standard class won't have the grap-straps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mecky Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 No doubt the bus fairs will be going up in sheffield then. Only this afternoon I saw a member of their staff sat on the buses charting passengers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Sampson Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 First claim that there is only 35% utilisation on the route, meaning there is sufficient spare capacity to ensure growth for the duration of the franchise. I have heard an average of 5% /year should enable the figures to add up. The walk-on fares on the West Coast are frankly outrageous and there is ample scope to trim in order to increase custom without slashing margins. The service which First has promised is interesting to say the least: 11 new 125mph trains, full refurbishment of existing stock with new seating throughout, new destinations and yes an eye watering premium payment to Gideon. Premium payments are due to rise each year until franchise close which could see an early walk away a la FGW although the loss of a £300 million bond and a potential "hand back the keys to your other services" clause should prevent this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANGELFIRE1 Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Looks like another multi billion pound bail out by HMG will be on the cards afore very long. Tricky Dickie Branson has little faith in first group been able to fulfil their contract. Angel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*_ash_* Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Where are all the usual suspects in this thread? It seems fairly quiet in this thread 'dangerous dave'; 'disasterous dave'; 'condems'; 'rich feeding the rich'; 'tories feeding their greedy mates'... ah hang on... they haven't fed the 'greedy man'. That blows a lot of arguments then. They're even arguing amongst each other in the Guardian's rag-mag [forum] - they don't know where to spit their bile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Sampson Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Where are all the usual suspects in this thread? It seems fairly quiet in this thread 'dangerous dave'; 'disasterous dave'; 'condems'; 'rich feeding the rich'; 'tories feeding their greedy mates'... ah hang on... they haven't fed the 'greedy man'. That blows a lot of arguments then. They're even arguing amongst each other in the Guardian's rag-mag [forum] - they don't know where to spit their bile. They cannot say anything because they know as well as everyone else that the previous two times a franchise has had to be cancelled early (GNER and NEEC) the contracts were let under a Labour led DfT (or SRA before then,) and when West Coast and Cross Country (both Virgin) were put onto a management contract status as obligations couldn't be met it was as a direct result of Railtrack incompetence, under Labours watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.