NCRUG Meeting

15th November 2016

Re-Regulation of the Rail Industry in Wales - Abellio Stakeholder Liaison Manager, Sian James, addresses NCRUG  ....

The meeting was addressed by Sian James representing Abellio Trains Wales. 

Sian spoke about the re-regulation of the rail industry within Wales and that she was a Stakeholder Liaison Manager for the bidding Company.

She thought that people consistently wanted new trains, clean trains and connectivity along with the provision of Apps, WiFi and extended services were a given from Wales to Liverpool to LSP and Liverpool Lime Street.

Ministers have put the contract in the hands of Transport for Wales (TfW) Growth Track 360 and the NWEAB were drivers for this.

Other bidders are Keolis, MTR and Arriva.

It seems that the four bidders would go forward to the next stage of the bidding process and that this process was totally different from other franchise bids as this one sought to be aspirational after the steady state award to ATW.

We were reminded that specific details of the bids, remains confidential.

However, the bidders are looking for new ideas. 

Cedric Green (NCRUG Secretary) asked what was the driver for this, if it was not profit? What are the incentives?

Sian advised that the bidders contract would drive the award and delivery process. 

After her presentation Sian invited questions – these covered amongst other topics:

  -  peak capacity problems on Saturdays/ Fridays/Chester Race Days etc
  -  shortage of rolling stock throughout the ATW franchise leading to overcrowded commuter
     services to Manchester
  -  service frequency and the busy parallel M56
  -  short-formed services
  -  CIS problems
  -  lack of through services to Wales on a Sunday
  -  fare anomalies and their creation,
  -  Class 175
  -  the DfT fare supplement and the response of Virgin Trains
  -  Welsh language signs at English stations
  -  the lack of ATW staff at stations beyond Runcorn East

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