Next East Mids franchise analysed
THE introduction of bi-mode trains in 2022, the reintroduction of peak services between Bedford and Wellingborough, and the splitting of the Norwich-Liverpool service at Nottingham feature in the East Midlands franchise Invitation to Tender released by Government on June 7.
The winning bidder will be expected to introduce electric multiple units on the CorbyLondon route from the end of 2020, while the first bi-mode units must be ready for testing at the end of the following year before being ready for traffic by April 30 2022.
Sources have told RAIL there is a belief that no such train is available ‘off the shelf’, and that it will take longer to design and develop than the 28 months between the start of the new East Midlands deal and the expected start of BMU testing.
The winning bidder will take over in August 2019, and will be expected to increase frequency on the Midland Main Line, run more trains on Sundays, provide WiFi, improve seating and luggage on trains, and improve Delay Repay by extending it to trains delayed by 15 minutes.
The current East Midlands Trains franchise began in November 2007, and has been run ever since by Stagecoach. That company, along with Abellio and Arriva, is shortlisted in the running to operate the new deal.
Peter Kennan, chairman of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce’s Transport Forum, told RAIL: “Six trains per hour are specified into London [as expected]. However, the ITT is silent on the numbers of seats on each train. The number of Standard Class seats needs to be enhanced to meet the ITT criteria for seats in the peak, and we question whether that can be delivered with 4/5/7-coach trains.
“The bi-modes clearly must be designed to keep Meridian timings, but also we would hope that the opportunity is taken to increase the train length.”
Meanwhile, despite 65% of passengers who answered a consultation on the future of the EM franchise stating that they did not want the Norwich-Liverpool service to be split, the Department for Transport plans to hand the Nottingham-Liverpool section to Northern or TransPennine Express, following consultation with Transport for the North. TPE said in April that it was interested in taking over the route. The split will likely happen in December 2021.
In a document detailing the results of the consultation, the DfT wrote: “Although 65% of respondents to the consultation were not in favour of the change, and whilst this change would inconvenience some passengers (around 300 people per day) by requiring them to change trains,
this has been balanced against the overall benefits to passengers, in that splitting the service and placing it with one of the north of England operators should make it easier to deliver.”
The DfT claimed 87% of journeys are on the LiverpoolNottingham part of the service, and that 4% cross Nottingham. It said benefits would include more capacity between Liverpool and Nottingham, faster journey times and a more reliable service.
The document added: “Recognising that there was opposition to the idea of a ‘clean break’ of the existing service at Nottingham, bidders are incentivised in the ITT to consider extending the remaining East Midlands service to start from Sheffield, subject to availability of infrastructure capacity, and also explore the possibility of serving new destinations such as Cambridge, to open up new journey opportunities for passengers. Provision will be made for East Midlands to continue to operate the service if an agreement with another operator cannot be reached.”
On this subject, Kennan said: “Starting back Norwich services from Sheffield could provide a much earlier start to services to Grantham, Peterborough, Ely and Norwich, where the first service is not presently until nearly 0900.”
Rail Minister Jo Johnson said: “We have listened carefully to what thousands of passengers and stakeholders have said they want to see in the next East Midlands franchise. We expect the next operator to unlock the unrealised potential while building on its stable foundations.”
Nick Barton, CEO of London Luton Airport, said: “It’s great to see the DfT has recognised the importance of improving rail’s modal share to London Luton and East Midlands airports. Improving air-rail links is essential to overcoming the capacity crisis. LLA currently has the lowest modal share of any London airport, which is a limiting factor on our ability to meet the ever-growing demand for air travel in the South East.
“The most efficient and cost-effective way of increasing modal share is to increase the frequency of trains which stop at Luton Airport Parkway to four per hour. This can be achieved at no additional cost, yet the benefits which it will bring to London and the UK are huge.
“This new franchise is a once-ina-decade opportunity to improve rail services for passengers and address the UK’s aviation capacity crunch. I urge all the bidders to make the most of it.”
Kennan said: “The procurement of a new bi-mode fleet capable of maintaining Meridian timings is a bit of a gamble, but it does give the opportunity to design a train that is fit for purpose. If it is not required to tilt, then the designers should use the full UK loading gauge to give more comfort for passengers and much more overhead luggage space. We should aspire to create something near to the Mk 3 experience that we are now so near to losing.” ■ See Analysis, pages 34-35.