Today
Virgin Trains, the West Coast Mainline Franchise holder for some 15 years, lost
its lucrative hold on this line to one of the worst performing TOCs in recent
times, the ironically named “First Group.” A TOC that repeatedly fails to meet
government set targets about punctuality and seems hellbent on a price hiking
system that means that a return ticket for a journey from Paddington to Oxford
will set you back almost £50. Nearly a pound a mile. This, is versus an
operator whose consistently high standards have persistently placed them at the
top of the league tables for train operators over the past 15 years. All
because of a flawed bidding system.
Virgin
trains were reported to have commented that they made a “realistic bid” for the
franchise, but lost out because of the vastness of Firstgroup’s coffers. This
worries me for a number of reasons. One would’ve thought that the government,
who issue the franchises, would have learned from National Express’ example of
a few years back. Another ridiculous bid, that pushed off high quality operator
“GNER” from the East Coast Franchise and then when they could not make the
route profitable enough to fund their repayments, then lost this to the state
who had to step in and take control at considerable public expense. Yet, we see
another company pursuing the same line.
First
have claimed that they can make this route pay back, and they can do this
without cutting operating costs. I’ve read their proposals. Adding 11 six car
trains to the London-Glasgow Route is not going to make this work. This is an
undersubscribed route, in fact, a lot of the West Coast is undersubscribed, and
with the prospect of HS2 coming along, it begs the thought of why bother
upgrading capacity in the short run.
The
RMT have threatened industrial action if Firstgroup try to cut costs by hacking
pay and services, and let’s face it, they will. So presumably, we’re looking at
a return to the days of the late 1980s, where rail transport was severely
disrupted by industrial action. And this is caused by a flawed railway and
bidding system.
Firstgroup
have a poor record for customer satisfaction, and this juxtaposed by Virgin/Stagecoach’s
high record of customer satisfaction. I can vouch for Virgin trains being a
fantastic company. Having travelled into Manchester Piccadilly on a “First
Transpennine” service, the difference between the attitudes of the two
companies was stark. As I was travelling first class and had prebooked, I was
met at the platform at Manchester and I made my way to the first class lounge
where the service offered from then, until arriving at Milton Keynes was
absolutely wonderful. First Transpennine on the other hand didn’t want to know,
and their desiro trains were difficult to get onto with a lot of luggage.
Privatisation
has not saved money at all; in fact it has increased operating costs. And
providing a public service with a profit motive ensures that money comes first
and people second. We see a lack of investment as a result, and a railway
system that leaves us lagging behind the rest of Europe. And I hope that the
selling of this franchise for the ludicrous price tag that it sold for, will
work out for Firstgroup without them causing the West Coast Mainline to slide
into disrepute. Otherwise, we may see another return to a state controlled
mainline which is not good for public confidence in our ailing railway system.
