Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
Aug 15th 2012, 2:16 pm
#1
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Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19264614
Thought that this would be of interest to those who use the Trains, when visiting the Homeland.
Jim.
Thought that this would be of interest to those who use the Trains, when visiting the Homeland.
Jim.
Aug 15th 2012, 5:17 pm
#2
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Re: Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
considering the East Coast Main Line is still under government ownership because the last two franchisees promised massive payments that they couldn't deliver, this is utterly, utterly bonkers.
Obviously Branson doesn't play the "jobs for the boys" game too well - does anyone remember when he bid to run the Lottery?
Obviously Branson doesn't play the "jobs for the boys" game too well - does anyone remember when he bid to run the Lottery?
Aug 15th 2012, 5:39 pm
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Re: Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
What's more worrying is that FirstGroup are taking over. They already run a huge chunk of the country - badly. Soon there will be only a couple of TOCs and zero competition.
Aug 15th 2012, 5:55 pm
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Re: Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
Yeah, they ruined Hull Trains' reliability when they took over that company.
Branson's statement does have a whiff of "and don't come crying to me when it all goes horribly wrong". Can't blame him really. One of the few seemingly honest/trustworthy businessmen left in the UK.
Branson's statement does have a whiff of "and don't come crying to me when it all goes horribly wrong". Can't blame him really. One of the few seemingly honest/trustworthy businessmen left in the UK.
Aug 15th 2012, 10:21 pm
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Re: Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
It's a bit complicated to work out who owns what but I think First will either equally, majority, or outright own about a third of the domestic TOCs by Christmas. Some of the franchises are huge - like Great Western, Scotrail, now West Coast, and First Capital Connect. Looks like not many people are happy about the deal.
Aug 15th 2012, 10:56 pm
#7
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Re: Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
It's a bit complicated to work out who owns what but I think First will either equally, majority, or outright own about a third of the domestic TOCs by Christmas. Some of the franchises are huge - like Great Western, Scotrail, now West Coast, and First Capital Connect. Looks like not many people are happy about the deal.
Aug 15th 2012, 11:07 pm
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Re: Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
No they're not. They chose not to extend their contract, but to re-bid on new terms.
Aug 15th 2012, 11:35 pm
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Re: Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
Well, there's your problem. It's good for a laugh but a reliable news source? No.
The fGW contract was issued in 2006 for 7 years - until March next year. Yes, they avoid paying out, hence my comment about "new terms". The three extra years your esteemed rag has chosen to call "walk out [...] early" is the optional extension which they have chosen not to exercise, as is their contractual right to choose.
Private Eye
"First Group chose to walk out on the Greater Western franchise three years early in March 2013 to avoid paying premiums that were due to DFT.
DFT, already struggling to run competitions for other new-look franchises, couldn't organise the next Greater Western deal in time for next April, so it is simply extending the existing franchise for a few extra months."
DFT, already struggling to run competitions for other new-look franchises, couldn't organise the next Greater Western deal in time for next April, so it is simply extending the existing franchise for a few extra months."
Private Eye
Aug 15th 2012, 11:37 pm
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Re: Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
Well, there's your problem. It's good for a laugh but a reliable news source? No.
The fGW contract was issued in 2006 for 7 years - until March next year. Yes, they avoid paying out, hence my comment about "new terms". The three extra years your esteemed rag has chosen to call "walk out [...] early" is the optional extension which they have chosen not to exercise, as is their contractual right to choose.
Private Eye
The fGW contract was issued in 2006 for 7 years - until March next year. Yes, they avoid paying out, hence my comment about "new terms". The three extra years your esteemed rag has chosen to call "walk out [...] early" is the optional extension which they have chosen not to exercise, as is their contractual right to choose.
Private Eye
Seriously though, Private Eye?!
Aug 15th 2012, 11:49 pm
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Re: Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
Seriously. 
I was the one to categorise the departure of FirstGroup as "giving up", not Private Eye. The fact that they're trying for a bite of the new cherry is neither here nor there, they still "gave up" on the current franchise. So I'm sticking by my original comment thank you very much.
The article actually referenced the original story from 2011 in which it is made clear that the post-March 2013 period was the subject of an option. So what's your problem with Private Eye? Not up to the standards of Nigel Harris or Roger Ford?
I was the one to categorise the departure of FirstGroup as "giving up", not Private Eye. The fact that they're trying for a bite of the new cherry is neither here nor there, they still "gave up" on the current franchise. So I'm sticking by my original comment thank you very much.
The article actually referenced the original story from 2011 in which it is made clear that the post-March 2013 period was the subject of an option. So what's your problem with Private Eye? Not up to the standards of Nigel Harris or Roger Ford?
Aug 15th 2012, 11:51 pm
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Re: Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
Well, there's your problem. It's good for a laugh but a reliable news source? No.
The fGW contract was issued in 2006 for 7 years - until March next year. Yes, they avoid paying out, hence my comment about "new terms". The three extra years your esteemed rag has chosen to call "walk out [...] early" is the optional extension which they have chosen not to exercise, as is their contractual right to choose.
Private Eye
The fGW contract was issued in 2006 for 7 years - until March next year. Yes, they avoid paying out, hence my comment about "new terms". The three extra years your esteemed rag has chosen to call "walk out [...] early" is the optional extension which they have chosen not to exercise, as is their contractual right to choose.
Private Eye
Aug 16th 2012, 12:00 am
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Re: Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
Seriously.
I was the one to categorise the departure of FirstGroup as "giving up", not Private Eye. The fact that they're trying for a bite of the new cherry is neither here nor there, they still "gave up" on the current franchise. So I'm sticking by my original comment thank you very much.
I was the one to categorise the departure of FirstGroup as "giving up", not Private Eye. The fact that they're trying for a bite of the new cherry is neither here nor there, they still "gave up" on the current franchise. So I'm sticking by my original comment thank you very much.
Holes and digging, my friend.As I said, it's an enjoyable read. Not a reliable news source. I've never met Nigel Harris so I can't comment on his standards or newsmanship. Roger Ford, on the other hand, reported on two identical bits of our kit on two different stands at a rail exhibition and reported one as low quality; the other of high quality - whether by choice, ignorance, or what is irrelevant, they were the same!
Aug 16th 2012, 5:33 am
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Re: Back Home: Virgin Loses West Coast Rail Franchise
You quote Private Eye but now say it was your comment? Holes and digging, my friend.
As I said, it's an enjoyable read. Not a reliable news source. I've never met Nigel Harris so I can't comment on his standards or newsmanship. Roger Ford, on the other hand, reported on two identical bits of our kit on two different stands at a rail exhibition and reported one as low quality; the other of high quality - whether by choice, ignorance, or what is irrelevant, they were the same!
Holes and digging, my friend.As I said, it's an enjoyable read. Not a reliable news source. I've never met Nigel Harris so I can't comment on his standards or newsmanship. Roger Ford, on the other hand, reported on two identical bits of our kit on two different stands at a rail exhibition and reported one as low quality; the other of high quality - whether by choice, ignorance, or what is irrelevant, they were the same!
Did he go to the Mitt Romney School of Journalism?!
