GOVIA awarded South Eastern Trains franchise until Mar 2012
Posted: Wed 07 Dec, 2005 15.53
Yes, another train related topic started by me..
Govia have been awarded the franchise for South Eastern Trains, and takeover from April 2006. they will be in charge of improvements to the normal 'slow' commuter trains, as well as the new high speed commuter trains running from Folkestone through to London St. Pancras in less than an hour.
Some of the changes Govia plan to make include:
· Under the deal, there will be significant investment in the business, creating a better railway for passengers with cleaner and more reliable trains, improved safety and security on the network and graffiti-free stations and trains.
· The introduction of additional services to ease overcrowding in the busy peak periods from December 2006.
· A comprehensive timetable overhaul in December 2007, to improve punctuality and deliver more services.
· A target of 9 out of 10 trains on time within three years, rising to 15 out of 16 by 2014.
· An investment of £18.1 million to improve the on-train environment across the entire fleet, with work to include new seat covers, toilets and new audio visual passenger information systems on the Networker trains.
· A 20 % reduction in cancellations due to vandalism.
· A £17.6 million programme to install modern CCTV on the entire train fleet.
· On stations, a £5.5 million improvement scheme will see the installation of help points and measures to improve accessibility at stations; plus improvements to car parks, CCTV enhancements and improvements to the customer information system.
· Repainting of all IKF stations within three years.
· Graffiti will normally be removed from trains and stations within 24 hours of it being reported.
· A commitment to significantly improve National Passenger Survey scores, in particular those for station cleanliness and ticket buying facilities.
· A commitment to achieve full Investors in People accreditation by the end of 2009, and will together with targeting 35% of the workforce to have an NVQ qualification by the same date.
· A new Stakeholder Advisory Board.
· The installation of wireless broadband internet access equipment on trains used for longer distance services.
· The introduction of zonal fares in the Metro area.
· New automated ticket gates at Ashford, Canterbury West and Gravesend.
· £1.8million investment in new ticket machines.
· Continuous support from SNCF, the French National railway company, in the planning and introduction of new high speed domestic services. Uniquely among UK train operators, Govia has a comprehensive partnership agreement with SNCF, who are the world leaders in all aspects of high speed rail technology and services.
Govia have been awarded the franchise for South Eastern Trains, and takeover from April 2006. they will be in charge of improvements to the normal 'slow' commuter trains, as well as the new high speed commuter trains running from Folkestone through to London St. Pancras in less than an hour.
Govia Website wrote: The Board of Go-Ahead welcomes the decision of the Department for Transport ("DfT") to select Govia, Go-Ahead's 65% subsidiary, as the new franchisee for the new eight year Integrated Kent Franchise. The franchise will include routes on the national rail network currently operated by South Eastern Trains throughout Kent, parts of Sussex and South East London, plus from 2009 the planned high speed services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link ("CTRL") from the Medway towns, Ashford and East Kent to Ebbsfleet, and on to Stratford and St. Pancras. The franchise will run from 1 April 2006 until 31 March 2012, with an automatic two year extension subject to the achievement of specified performance targets. This will be extended pro rata for up to two further years in the event of any delay in the start up of the CTRL high speed services.
There will be a revenue share mechanism and the significant initial subsidy will reverse into a modest premium at the end of the franchise. The franchise is expected to generate revenue of approximately £560m at the outset, inclusive of subsidy.
Commenting on the DfT's announcement, Chris Moyes, Chief Executive of the Group, said:
"We are delighted to have reached agreement with the DfT on the Integrated Kent Franchise, one of the largest commuter rail franchises. It fits perfectly with our focused strategy to provide passenger transport management services in the UK and the addition of IKF will endorse us as a pre-eminent operator of commuter rail services in the South East. We submitted a robust and competitive bid and are confident that real benefits will be delivered for passengers in terms of improved services, punctuality and reliability."
Note to Editors:
Go-Ahead is a key operator of commuter services in London and the South East. Through Govia, it is the franchise holder for Thameslink and Southern. Bus services include London Central and General, companies in North East England, Oxford, Brighton, Poole, Bournemouth, Southampton, Isle of Wight and routes in the Gatwick Airport and Crawley conurbation. The aviation and car parking businesses have nationwide coverage.
Govia is a joint venture between Go-Ahead (65%) and Keolis SA (35%) which is a French-based operator of passenger transport services in seven European countries and in Canada. Keolis is owned by 3i, SNCF and senior management.
Some of the changes Govia plan to make include:
· Under the deal, there will be significant investment in the business, creating a better railway for passengers with cleaner and more reliable trains, improved safety and security on the network and graffiti-free stations and trains.
· The introduction of additional services to ease overcrowding in the busy peak periods from December 2006.
· A comprehensive timetable overhaul in December 2007, to improve punctuality and deliver more services.
· A target of 9 out of 10 trains on time within three years, rising to 15 out of 16 by 2014.
· An investment of £18.1 million to improve the on-train environment across the entire fleet, with work to include new seat covers, toilets and new audio visual passenger information systems on the Networker trains.
· A 20 % reduction in cancellations due to vandalism.
· A £17.6 million programme to install modern CCTV on the entire train fleet.
· On stations, a £5.5 million improvement scheme will see the installation of help points and measures to improve accessibility at stations; plus improvements to car parks, CCTV enhancements and improvements to the customer information system.
· Repainting of all IKF stations within three years.
· Graffiti will normally be removed from trains and stations within 24 hours of it being reported.
· A commitment to significantly improve National Passenger Survey scores, in particular those for station cleanliness and ticket buying facilities.
· A commitment to achieve full Investors in People accreditation by the end of 2009, and will together with targeting 35% of the workforce to have an NVQ qualification by the same date.
· A new Stakeholder Advisory Board.
· The installation of wireless broadband internet access equipment on trains used for longer distance services.
· The introduction of zonal fares in the Metro area.
· New automated ticket gates at Ashford, Canterbury West and Gravesend.
· £1.8million investment in new ticket machines.
· Continuous support from SNCF, the French National railway company, in the planning and introduction of new high speed domestic services. Uniquely among UK train operators, Govia has a comprehensive partnership agreement with SNCF, who are the world leaders in all aspects of high speed rail technology and services.
