Stagecoach win East Midlands franchise

In message <467e8b2a.1987796@news.>, at 15:19:42 on Sun,
24 Jun 2007, Neil Williams <wensleydale@pacersplace.org.uk> remarked:
>>Several of the ex-CT lines get "no mention" - the press releases are
>>almost exclusively about "better things", and they avoid the "business
>>as usual" lines. But they did say the Nottingham-Liverpools will be
>>upgraded to four cars, which either means a permanent change at
>>Nottingham onto the (once through-service) Norwich trains; or will they
>>join and split a 2+2?
>
>The last time I heard about the plan was that it'd be 2 cars to
>Nottingham, then join another 2 from there to Liverpool. The two cars
>removed from an incoming service from Liverpool would be shoved out of
>the way somewhere then put on the next arrival from Norwich going back
>to Liverpool, thus saving a unit diagram or two on the quiet part of
>the route.
>
>This wasn't a Stagecoach proposal - I believe the DfT thought it up in
>conjunction with CT.

Yes, that was one proposed scheme I'm sure, but doesn't quite tally with
other reports of the transfer of ex-TPX 158's specifically for the
Nottingham-Liverpool route (ironic that it was TPX who lost the rights
to have the service transferred to them!)
--
Roland Perry

Mike the unimaginative wrote:
>>
> Absolutely! Why, oh, why terminate at Corby, why not run most / some /
> all services on to Melton Mowbray? What have the people of Melton done
> to deserve being ignored in this way?
> Surely it can't be to do with paths - or is it more to do with
> platform length at Melton (can't say I've ever been on the station
> there)?

Assuming that they are using four- or five-car Meridians it shouldn't be a
problem, AFAIK.

On Sun, 24 Jun 2007, Mike the unimaginative wrote:

> "Jack Taylor" <Jack@Carney.co.uk> wrote in
> news:1U7fi.5728$_l6.531@newsfe6-win.ntli.net:
>
>> Another opportunity seems to have been missed by not continuing the
>> Corby trains on, via Manton Junction, to Melton Mowbray and Leicester
>
> Absolutely! Why, oh, why terminate at Corby, why not run most / some /
> all services on to Melton Mowbray? What have the people of Melton done
> to deserve being ignored in this way?
>
> Surely it can't be to do with paths - or is it more to do with platform
> length at Melton (can't say I've ever been on the station there)?

Pies on the line.

tom

--
Once you notice that something doesn't seem to have all the necessary
parts to enable its functions, it is going to mildly bug you until you
figure it out. -- John Rowland

On 22 Jun, 17:45, "Graculus" <ReplaceWithMyMoni...@.uk>
wrote:
> "Chris Tolley" <c...@supanet.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1rvpoinu5ra0o.68va8khfb2l3$.dlg@40tude.net...
>
> > Paul Corfield wrote:
>
> >> Over the life of the franchise, seven years and four months, the
> >> DfT will receive a premium of £133m from Stagecoach Midland Rail
> >> Limited.
>
> > and
>

> Yup, alrady suffering that on SouthWest Trains, where 1 pound in every 5
> goes to the government. Not Network Rail, or anywhere else related to the
> railway, but straight into the exchequer as general taxation. There may not
> be VAT on transport, but there's already a 25% (stealth) tax on my train
> fares.

Actually, not. It goes to DfT, who recycle it back into the lines that
receive a subsidy. Actual net HMG/devolved government/PTAs
contribution to the British railway system exceeds GBP5 billion per
annum*

*At least it was last year, I haven't checked this year

Incidentally, can anyone point me at a breakdown of the subsidy/
premium profile of all TOCs please?

Thanks

Patrick

On 22 Jun, 11:06, John B <s...@johnband.org> wrote:
> Did someone say "Bowker effect"?

He's also busy sorting out the climate (see press release below from
National Express group website), Presumably he's currently using the
area served by the top end of the Midland Main Line as a pilot test
for his latest interest.

"NX Group at No 10 Summit on Climate Change

26/06/2007


National Express Group Chief Executive, Richard Bowker, today met with
British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and California's Governor, Arnold
Schwarzenegger, to accelerate transatlantic action on climate change
and to encourage global shift towards a low carbon economy.

Richard Bowker was part of a coalition of 19 business leaders at the
roundtable meeting at No 10 Downing Street which was aimed at creating
momentum in the battle to tackle climate change.

The event was attended by Gordon Brown and David Miliband, Secretary
of State for Environment as well as senior representatives from B&Q,
Barclays, BBC, BP, BSkyB, DuPont, Goldman Sachs, Google, Interface,
JPMorgan, Man Group, News International, O2, Royal & Sun Alliance,
Swiss Re, Tesco, Walkers and Warner Bros. The business leaders
present have already pledged to work with governments, civil society
and their customers to tackle climate change.

The group reported on progress achieved on their own emissions
reduction programmes, discussed challenges to developing an
international emissions trading scheme, and reviewed successes in
driving public engagement since the Long Beach summit in California
last July, also co-ordinated by The Climate Group.

They also discussed the growing UK public engagement campaign 'We're
in this Together' which has a planned US roll-out later this year.
This business-backed campaign - led by The Climate Group and unveiled
by Tony Blair and David Miliband earlier this year - offers both ideas
for behavioural change and practical solutions for UK consumers.

The campaign aims to help reduce average household emissions by around
a tonne over three years. Since April, the campaign has announced 12
separate solutions and has already saved 36,000 tonnes of CO2 (an
amount equivalent to taking 13,000 family cars off the road for a
year). 'We're in this Together' will also provide a practical and
official legacy to London's Live Earth concert on 7th July.

National Express coach operation is working with Live Earth to
encourage the use of public transport: information and case studies
have been included in the 90,000 ticket wallets sent out for the
event; and all those travelling to the venue by coach will receive a
Coach Card giving 30% discount on travel. The division has also
unveiled a new network of coach services from 43 towns and cities in
the UK direct to the gates of the new Wembley Stadium. Over 10,000
people have used National Express coach services for the first few
events at the national stadium, with a minimum of 5,000 people
expected to use the services to travel to the Live Earth event.

The Group also has its launch of its 'Carbon Club' set for late 2007:
this will give rewards to customers using its coach or rail services
based on the amount of carbon saved travelling by public transport
rather than car.

Commenting on the Group's involvement in the Climate Group, Richard
Bowker said: "As a leading international transport provider, National
Express Group has a responsibility to collaborate with other business
leaders to tackle climate change. We are proud to be playing our part
to raise the awareness of climate change and, more importantly, to
highlight how people can do their bit to make a difference. Moving
forward we will be highlighting the environmental credentials of
coach, bus and train travel thereby giving the travelling public a
practical way to reduce their carbon footprint."

Dr Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group, said: "The scale and
urgency of the climate change problem facing us calls for
unprecedented collaboration. UK and California leadership on this
issue has blazed a trail for others to follow. The companies here
today are already leading the way in reducing their own carbon
footprints and are now turning their attention towards making it
easier, cheaper and more appealing for consumers to play their part in
the solution. We hope the 'We're in this Together' campaign will
receive further public support following the Live Earth concerts and
capture the aspirations of many in this country and beyond who want
practical help in knowing how to play their part in tackling climate
change."

- Ends -


Notes to Editors:

National Express Group serves around one billion passengers a year
worldwide on its bus, train, light rail and express coach and airport
operations. We have leading positions in each of our markets - the
United Kingdom, North America and Spain."