CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
First Group 'to lose Scotrail franchise' to Dutch firm
(129 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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"
“It is scandalous that just a few weeks after the referendum, and promises from all quarters that the Scottish people would have an increased say in every aspect of their lives, that the continued privatisation of Scotland’s railways has been bulldozed through with the SNP colluding with the political elite in Westminster to deny the opportunity for this franchise to be brought back into public ownership.
“There is no question that this whole franchising process could and should have been halted, pending the ratification of the post referendum devolution settlement, instead of rushing headlong into a deal that will deny the Scottish people ownership and control of their railways for many years to come.
"
http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/first-lose-scotrail-franchise-to-dutch-firm-abellio-1-3565659
Posted 9 years ago # -
Wait. Was that a story about the franchise or an editorial by the man from the union?
I think we require learned experts Morningsider or PS to inform us as to the legality/technicality of the SG's ability to de facto nationalise the Scotrail franchise.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Apparently press conference tomorrow morning by Keith Brown at Waverley station. Scotland 2014 reporter saying that a Dutch company running the new franchise "might be good news for Scotland's cyclists".
Posted 9 years ago # -
Official Transport Scotland page on the franchise 'Renewal Programme' as it's known in the quango jargon.
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/rail/scotrail-franchise/scotrail-franchise-renewal-programme
Posted 9 years ago # -
Posted 9 years ago #
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These are the scumbags that run Northern Rail. This is unlikely to be good news for anyone in Scotland.
Google Helen Pidd 'so article about Northern Rail from a couple of months ago in the Guardian
Posted 9 years ago # -
"Google Helen Pidd" (once a cyclist in Edinburgh)
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/23/hs3-north-england-rail-service-george-osborne
Posted 9 years ago # -
Dutch rail companies charge a separate fair for a bike 6 euros ( for a bike day ticket) which can only be used off-peak.
Posted 9 years ago # -
There are just too many cyclists in Holland for bike-train-bike commuting to be possible. That is why you see the massive bicycle parks at stations - people have two bikes, one for each end of the journey. No doubt the one that is left overnight is some cheap & nasty job. I think bike theft is a problem there too.
They have to ration the available space on the trains somehow.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Will anyone really be sorry to see the back of First?
Posted 9 years ago # -
"Will anyone really be sorry to see the back of First?"
Of course most existing staff will remain and the intent of the new company (just like its predecessors) is to make money.
Obviously there is some scope to do this by keeping customers (maybe call them passengers again?) happy(er) - cleaner, more punctual, fewer overcrowded trains etc. that might also attract extra passengers.
Maybe there will be significant investment in better trains, but the rest is largely tinkering and doesn't really alter any problems caused by Network Rail.
As fimm implies, not likely to be a massive increase in cycle spaces on trains, though Abellio do have good reasons to (try to) 'sort' cycle parking capacity - and the ramp access at Waverley...
Posted 9 years ago # -
"the ramp access at Waverley..."
Which is a station run by Network Rail rather than Scotrail. So no change anytime soon, methinks.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Northern Rail have at least brought in an OV fiets style rental system whereby you can pick up a bike at the station (and bring it back there). A Scotland-wide version of that, with e-bikes in the more rural locations, would be fab in my opinion.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"Helen Pidd 'so article about Northern Rail from a couple of months ago in the Guardian"
Which seems to lay the blame squarely at Westminster's door for insufficient public transport subsidy, rather than the operator.
So, how the new Scotrail franchise goes will largely depend on the franchise specifications, and the subsidies available for infrastructure, maintenance, rolling stock, etc.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@sallyhinch, yes that would be great for Scotland!
Also, in the franchise spec: "Bidders will be required to achieve a minimum specification of transport integration with other modes and play a key role in securing further integration over the term."
I wonder what that minimum spec is? What have the new franchisees promised for "securing further integration over the term"?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Posted 9 years ago #
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"Which is a station run by Network Rail rather than Scotrail."
Yes.
"So no change anytime soon, methinks."
Except that there is a commercial/financial relationship between the two.
As you will know from previous threads Spokes (and others) contacted the bidders to remind them about 'cycling'. The winner has experience in England and Netherlands.
Of course it could be that Network Rail Scotland is particularly resistant to being helpful...
Posted 9 years ago # -
kaputnik - The Scottish Government could have halted the franchising process (the invitation to tender states that the process can be suspended at any time). It seems probable that the Smith Commission will recommend devolving the power over rail franchising legislation to the Scottish Government - it has wide ranging political support. This would allow the law to be changed to permit a publicly owned rail operator to be created. The Scottish Government could have awarded a franchise extension to First to cover the period while all this is sorted out. The UK Government has extended several franchises following the West Coast debacle.
I understand Abellio will offer a "Bike and Go" hire service at main stations and will produce a mobile app to allow tickets, bikes etc. to be booked online. I think integrated transport provision will be limited to screens showing bus times at key stations.
New electric trains will be brought into service as part of the EGIP project and I understand that the Kyle, West Highland and Far North line trains will be refurbished. Trains "more suited to the demands of intercity travel" will be introduced on long distance routes - could this be the proposed refurbished HSTs that we talked about a few months ago, although that would be several years away?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Posted 9 years ago #
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Looks promising -
My bold
"
For passengers -
• free wifi on all trains
• new approach to cycling with more than 3,500 parking spaces and bike-hire at a number of stations.
• 23% more carriages across the network,
• reduced fares for jobseekers,
• high-speed intercity diesel trains, with over a third more seats,
• advance fares of £5 between any two Scottish cities,
• Great Scenic Railway scheme bringing more tourists to the north, the south west and the Borders,
• major shopping developments at the stations at Aberdeen and Inverness.Posted 9 years ago # -
Given the reply I received from Arbelo when I emailed all the bidders was longer than all the others put together my initial thought is that they will certainly be no worse and will probably be better than any of the other bidders for cycle provision. I've included said reply below:
Hi,
Many thanks for your email and on behalf of Abellio we are pleased that you have taken the trouble to write to us with your concerns and aspirations for future cycling provision as part of the ScotRail Franchise.
Apologies for the delay in responding but we have generated a significant number of requests from stakeholders such as yourself which have aided our understanding on how we should approach our cycling strategy for ScotRail. Therefore, sorry for having created the impression that you might have been forgotten about.
Over the last 18 months we have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the entire Scottish rail network including its features such as existing cycling facilities at stations, on board existing rolling stock and connectivity from towns to stations. As you would expect this holistic examination has included a gap analysis which has included where existing rolling stock is weak in terms of provision.
Under the public version of the ITT it is common knowledge that all bidders have to address the issues that you are concerned with and I can therefore assure that as we approach submission deadline of next week we have considered all the aspects contained within your email. I’m afraid we can’t say much more than that about ScotRail as the confidential caveat is as below:
Under the ScotRail Franchise Procurement Rules we are prohibited from disclosing what it is we intend to include in our franchise proposal.
We are, however, aware of the current situation at South Gyle Station regarding cycle storage facilities and this is on our audited list of where cycling facilities exist and how many cycles can be accommodated, where cycling facilities don’t exist and if there is any demand at the stations.
On your point regarding the carriage of cycles on trains it is much more difficult to achieve immediate gains in the short term and we are acutely aware of the disappointments and frustrations faced by cyclists such as yourself. For a number of reasons there are elements of our parent company experience in the Netherlands which doesn’t help as to carry a cycle on a train in the Netherlands, for instance, incurs a charge and then of course the rolling stock fleet is entirely different from what we have available in the UK. Of course there has been two very crucial reasons why cycling has been facilitated in the Netherlands in the way it has and that has been due to the necessary infrastructure being put in place as part of the planning process when considering other transport modes and the social acceptance that cycling is an important part of its culture. In fact one of the reasons why cycles outnumber people in the Netherlands is because everyone has two cycles. One from door to departure station and the other from arrival station to place of work.
The price of ticketing is a separate matter where all bidders have been asked to address as part of their bid.
However, to give some reassurance to you on our attitude to full integration with cycling or as we call our ‘door to door’ philosophy we have opened up several Bike&Go facilities in our other UK franchises. I have pasted below the link to our Go Dutch - Bike&Go Schemes which gives an indication of our intentions to expand cycling facilities elsewhere in the UK:
http://www.passengertransport.co.uk/2013/06/going-dutch-cycling-in-the-uk-the-abellio-way/
Bike&Go is the UK’s first fully integrated cycle hire scheme for train stations.
As you would imagine as Abellio is the international division of Dutch State Railways cycling is a significant part of our cultural and attitudinal DNA and we see this as being just as important to Scotland than any of our other UK franchises.
In keeping with our attitude to cycling we were the only bidder that sponsored an exhibition space at the National Scottish Cycling Conference held at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome where we had on display our Bike&Go Scheme. We have since taken exhibition spaces at a variety of other transport conferences raising the scope for improving cycling in ScotRail. I can confirm that we have had ongoing consultations with a significant number of cycling groups such as Spokes, Cycling Scotland, Sustrans, CTC, Stirling Cycling Hub, South West Community Cycles based at Pollokshaws West rail station and many more. In addition, we have met to discuss cycling among other things with numerous local authorities including the City of Edinburgh Council and six of the seven Scottish Regional Transport Partnerships.
Therefore, cycling is very high up on our agenda.
We have a long way to go and from this email I hope you can see that we are very much aware of your issues and we are working through the best approach.
Kind regards
Mike
Posted 9 years ago # -
From above -
"
Of course there has been two very crucial reasons why cycling has been facilitated in the Netherlands in the way it has and that has been due to the necessary infrastructure being put in place as part of the planning process when considering other transport modes and the social acceptance that cycling is an important part of its culture.
"
Well yes!...
Suggest you get back to "Mike" and ask him if he can now give more details.
And direct him to this -
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12049&page=8#post-167002
Posted 9 years ago # -
More here, in particular an interactive map.
A lot of references to "working in partnership to deliver cycle hire facilities".
Posted 9 years ago # -
"
Spokes CycleCampaign (@SpokesLothian)
07/10/2014 21:14
#BBC says #abellio win #scotrail franchise. May be great #bikerail news!http://www.passengertransport.co.uk/2013/06/going-dutch-cycling-in-the-uk-the-abellio-way
@TransformScot @CyclingEdin @DamienHenderson"
Posted 9 years ago # -
Looks like the union got out the press release before 'the cycle lobby' -
Posted 9 years ago # -
I think people are getting a little carried away. 3,500 cycle parking spaces sounds great. However, there are 351 railway stations in Scotland, all of which already have cycle parking - mostly Sheffield stands. I suspect this represents an increase in cycle parking at some major hubs - but nothing revolutionary.
There may be an opportunity for increased cycle carriage on the new Edinburgh-Glasgow electric trains and on any refurbished trains. However, this is likely to be fairly minor - as the main aim is to carry more people, not bikes. Also, it is easier to argue against increased bike carriage if a station based bike rental scheme is in operation.
I suppose the key questions for Abellio are:
1. Where will the bike rental hubs be, when will they open and what will bike rental cost?
2. What are your plans for bike carriage on new and refurbished trains?
3. Where will the new bike parking be and will it be secure/covered?Posted 9 years ago # -
"I think people are getting a little carried away."
Perhaps, but so far they have 'talked good' and seem to have done a lot of work looking at 'the issues'.
If they have 'engaged with stakeholders' enough, they will realise they are knowledgeable and determined...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Of course they still have to deal with NRS.
Posted 9 years ago # -
A lot of improvements can come from a more helpful and welcoming attitude from the train operator and (with appropriate training, encouragement and cultural indoctrination) its staff.
If Abellio take a joined-up approach to transport that recognises that they will get more passengers on their trains by making it easier for people to use bikes to get to/from the stations, then that's good.
They will also have considerably more clout than Jo(e) Punter when it comes to pointing out the ridiculousness of the Waverley crowd-control railings to NR, and the woeful cycle-facilities on approaches to the station to CEC.
Anyway, here's what Abellio are saying about it.
Includes:
Based on our Dutch experience we will deliver the UK’s most extensive cycle/rail network:
•£1.6m investment in more cycle parking spaces:
•New, fully staffed Dutch style “Cyclepoints” at the key city hubs and “Cycleparks+” at five others
•Bike&Go cycle hire scheme at 10 stations, for only £3.80/day hire charge
•Improved off peak cycle capacity on trains
Posted 9 years ago #
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