Cross Country get three-year extension

[Wookiee]

Great news for all their happy customers...

Long-distance train operator CrossCountry, part of the Arriva Group, welcomed the announcement today by the Department for Transport (DfT) that it had been awarded a new three-year contract to keep operating its passenger services across Great Britain.

Starting on Sunday 18 October, the contract runs until October 2023.

The new contract allows CrossCountry to keep operating its long-distance and inter-regional services crossing England, Scotland and Wales, providing journeys for business and leisure customers and connecting cities and towns to support the nation’s social and economic recovery. Alongside providing customers the confidence of a stable and sustainable service in these uncertain times, the new contract includes a range of benefits to improve their travelling experience and benefit the communities CrossCountry’s trains serve.

Welcoming the DfT announcement, CrossCountry’s Managing Director, Tom Joyner, said, “This is great news for our customers and stakeholders and recognises the importance of our continuing to deliver long-distance business and leisure services across England, Scotland and Wales.

“Our trains connect towns and cities, people and communities across Great Britain, and this will be essential as we rebuild our national and local economies. We will continue to focus on highlighting the benefits of rail travel and ensuring our customers can travel with confidence."

CrossCountry welcomes new contract to keep vital services connecting Great Britain | CrossCountry

Information about CrossCountry trains for journalists and members of the press. Read our press releases and contact us for media enquiries here.

www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

 

[Bletchleyite]

" the new contract includes a range of benefits to improve their travelling experience and benefit the communities CrossCountry’s trains serve "

Anyone any idea what? Tarting the Voyagers up a bit? They need it - they couldn't be more different to Avanti's if they tried.

 

[Wookiee]

" the new contract includes a range of benefits to improve their travelling experience and benefit the communities CrossCountry’s trains serve "

Anyone any idea what? Tarting the Voyagers up a bit? They need it - they couldn't be more different to Avanti's if they tried.

There's an article on Yahoo claiming that they'll be investing in trains that use battery power to pull away from stations to improve air quality.

Under the new deal, capacity will be boosted by 20,000 seats per week, more drivers and on-board staff will be deployed, and technology to cut the environmental impact of operations will be trialled.

This includes powering trains using batteries instead of diesel when they enter and leave stations, to improve air quality.

CrossCountry handed new three-year deal to run train services

The Department for Transport will take on the revenue and cost risk associated with the franchise.

uk.finance.yahoo.com

 

[Domh245]

DfT press release has a bit more information

Vital long-distance rail services that people the length of Great Britain rely upon will continue to run and support the UK’s recovery from coronavirus (COVID-19), thanks to a new contract signed between the government and Arriva CrossCountry.

Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris has announced today (16 October 2020) that Arriva CrossCountry, which has run the service since 2007, will continue to operate the franchise for 3 more years until October 2023. This will provide certainty for passengers and staff as the future direction of rail reform takes shape.

As people return to the railway, passengers will benefit from increased capacity and more train drivers and on-board staff to improve services and performance. This comes alongside new measures to help passengers with disabilities, including the ability to reserve space for assistance dogs and better staff training to meet the high standard, best practice seen across the rail industry.

The contract also has a renewed focus on tackling environmental impacts. To reduce diesel emissions, Arriva CrossCountry will trial the use of electrical shore supplies when their Turbostar fleet are in depots for cleaning, which will reduce the use of diesel engines.

The Department for Transport will also continue to work with the owners of the Voyager trains to trial the use of on-train batteries when they enter and leave stations so that engines are turned off when they’re at platforms further improving air quality.

Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said:

This agreement ensures that vital train services will continue across the UK’s most extensive rail network, as the country continues to fight and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The deal announced today reaffirms our commitment to ending the complicated franchise system and is focused on the best interests of passengers, delivering better services and helping create a new kind of railway.
With a real focus on boosting capacity and seizing the opportunity to create more environmentally sustainable services, this new contract will benefit passengers in the long term, improving their experience when travelling on our railways.

This new contract complements the Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements (ERMAs) announced in September, in place for up to 18 months, where the government pays train companies a small management fee to keep services running through the pandemic.

The contract will see the government take on the revenue and cost risk associated with the franchise and pay Arriva a performance-linked fee to run the service. This will incentivise the company to deliver improvements to operational performance, passenger experience and service quality.

Stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted Airport to Cardiff, CrossCountry’s network is the most geographically extensive passenger rail franchise in Britain. Calling at over 100 stations, it connects 7 of Britain’s 10 largest cities.

Nothing about refurbishments or additional stock, but the bit about batteries on the voyagers is interesting

 

[Wyrleybart]

Not seen any real substance yet but XC are planning to put 170s on shorelines for carriage cleaning etc. Also something about trials with voyagers using batteries to run in and out of stations. This reminds me of the Virgin Atlantic plan to tow aircraft to the ends of runways to save fuel. Not sure where that particular idea went !!!

 

[Bletchleyite]

It does mention increased capacity, to be fair. The battery idea is an interesting one - the things stink New St out something rotten, and while the Crystal Maze-esque extractor fans do clear it out you can't hear yourself think (let alone hear announcements) when they kick in, so pose an accessibility issue.

Not seen any real substance yet but XC are planning to put 170s on shorelines for carriage cleaning etc.

Not Voyagers?

 

[popeter45]

surprised they have awarded a 3 year contract like this after announcing the end of franchising, i would have far more expected something like a year while the new model is developed

 

[BayPaul]

Batteries on Voyagers sounds like a very clever idea...

Moderator note: for further discussion regarding this possibility, please use the following thread:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/xc-voyagers-to-get-battery-packs-how-could-this-be-implemented-and-how-can-the-technology-be-best-utilised.210398/

 

[dave87016]

Cheap tickets on any train ?? Lmao was that Boris talking ?

 

[swt_passenger]

{shore supplies}
Not Voyagers?

Maybe Voyagers already are shore supplied - at least at their newer dedicated depots.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

surprised they have awarded a 3 year contract like this after announcing the end of franchising, i would have far more expected something like a year while the new model is developed

This gives us some idea of the anticipated timescale for implementing the new model: presumably XC will be the last to move on to the new model, in which case this ties in with not overwhelming the DfT with work during Brexit and Covid (which I imagine (but don't know) that the government thinks will both be sorted in the next twelve months) and having everything on the passenger railway sorted by late 2023, a year ahead of the next scheduled general election in December 2024.

 

[theironroad]

surprised they have awarded a 3 year contract like this after announcing the end of franchising, i would have far more expected something like a year while the new model is developed

Franchising is dead. Long live franchising.

Unless there is some sort of early break clause so the dft can end it early, this just seems more of the same.

On the headline, doesn't seem to be any radical change at all and seems any early notion of trimming the ends of their routes off has gone too.

 

[fgwrich]

I suppose something had to be done (as their franchise ran out on Sunday!) but it's a shame that it's very much as case of the same as usual. Those Voyagers will be 20 years old before anyone makes any significant interior work to them!

 

[raetiamann]

Both the 170s and the Voyagers are in need of though internal refurbishing. That would be a great place to start and highly visible to their customers.

 

[StephenHunter]

This is a "concession" like GTR have. We will likely get many more ofthese.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Franchising is dead. Long live franchising.
Unless there is some sort of early break clause so the dft can end it early, this just seems more of the same.
On the headline, doesn't seem to be any radical change at all and seems any early notion of trimming the ends of their routes off has gone too.

The new contract will be very different to a franchise though, it will just be a management contract.
DfT will take all the service/fleet decisions, and I see they are also running the Voyager battery project with the leasing company.
Arriva were lucky that with the end of the former contract, they had no exposure to "parent guarantees" which is where TPE and SWR are in trouble.
Arriva's London Overground contract is already on a concession basis with TfL.
DfT are obviously trying to get all the contracts on the same management basis ready for resetting the lot.
Chiltern (also Arriva) will likely be the next for a management contract on franchise expiry in Dec 2021.
The GWR extended franchise/management contract also expires in 2023.

 

[Gaz55]

I guess that Covid has alleviated some of Cross Country's capacity issues, especially on the long distance routes. Hopefully when this contract ends, we will see either new trains or transfers from EMR and Avanti. I am suprised about there being no details for a refurb program for the Voyagers, they are long overdue for some tlc, especially if they being retained for the long term.

 

[greatvoyager]

I guess that Covid has alleviated some of Cross Country's capacity issues, especially on the long distance routes. Hopefully when this contract ends, we will see either new trains or transfers from EMR and Avanti. I am suprised about there being no details for a refurb program for the Voyagers, they are long overdue for some tlc, especially if they being retained for the long term.

Is there any slack in the fleet to allow for it before other stock is available?

 

[Starmill]

The new contract will be very different to a franchise though, it will just be a management contract.
DfT will take all the service/fleet decisions, and I see they are also running the Voyager battery project with the leasing company.
Arriva were lucky that with the end of the former contract, they had no exposure to "parent guarantees" which is where TPE and SWR are in trouble.
Arriva's London Overground contract is already on a concession basis with TfL.
DfT are obviously trying to get all the contracts on the same management basis ready for resetting the lot.
Chiltern (also Arriva) will likely be the next for a management contract on franchise expiry in Dec 2021.
The GWR extended franchise/management contract also expires in 2023.

Both CrossCountry and GWR have been in the Direct Award boat for rather a long time now. Not much is changing here!

 

[Gaz55]

Is there any slack in the fleet to allow for it before other stock is available?

That's a good question, you'd have to say probably not with the current set up. It might have been possible if some their routes had been cut.

 

[3141]

surprised they have awarded a 3 year contract like this after announcing the end of franchising, i would have far more expected something like a year while the new model is developed

Once they've developed the new model, they have to apply it to each franchise area (assuming that they don't complicate things still further by rearranging some of the franchise areas as well). This will mean specifying what they want in each case and inviting companies to bid to provide it. When the Cross Country franchise was up for replacement a few years ago it was reported that only Arriva put in a bid. So if the DfT thinks it may be difficult to let the Cross Country franchise on the new model, it makes sense to agree a 3-year extension, which enables them to get on with sorting all the others that need to be re-organised.

It may also mean that if DB sells Arriva, the buyer has a good length of time for the Cross Country business ahead of it and the DfT doesn't have to come back to the issue in the near future.

 

[swt_passenger]

So just to confirm the thread title, is this really an extension, or is it a new direct award on a management fee basis?

 

[Mollman]

I guess that Covid has alleviated some of Cross Country's capacity issues, especially on the long distance routes. Hopefully when this contract ends, we will see either new trains or transfers from EMR and Avanti. I am suprised about there being no details for a refurb program for the Voyagers, they are long overdue for some tlc, especially if they being retained for the long term.

Is there any slack in the fleet to allow for it before other stock is available?

I'd have thought that the if your taking a unit out to fit batteries you may as well give it a quick spruce up at the same time. This wouldn't be a full refurb but would get rid of the work worn look inside.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

So just to confirm the thread title, is this really an extension, or is it a new direct award on a management fee basis?

From the DfT announcement:

Rail update: 16 October 2020

Direct award of the Cross Country rail franchise to Arriva until October 2023.

www.gov.uk

Vital rail services protected through new deal with Arriva CrossCountry

New contract ensures continuation and improvement of train services across UK's most extensive rail network.

www.gov.uk

The contract will see the Government take on the revenue and cost risk associated with the franchise and pay Arriva a performance-linked fee to operate the service, incentivising the company to deliver improvements to operational performance, passenger experience and service quality.

It's an ERMA in anything but name, but lasts 3 years.
It's not an extension of the old franchise contract terms.

 

[ashkeba]

Not seen any real substance yet but XC are planning to put 170s on shorelines for carriage cleaning etc.

A 170 on the Dawlish route will be rammed and I do not believe that the sea will clean a train enough!

 

[Bletchleyite]

A 170 on the Dawlish route will be rammed and I do not believe that the sea will clean a train enough!

In all seriousness, doesn't a 3-car 170 have more seats than a 4-car Voyager? Or close to it...

 

[crablab]

In all seriousness, doesn't a 3-car 170 have more seats than a 4-car Voyager? Or close to it...

That's nuts if so, especially as 170s are much more comfortable and less....whiffy.

 

[plugwash]

That's nuts if so, especially as 170s are much more comfortable and less....whiffy.

Between large crumple zones (required for 125MPH running at the time), three disabled toilets (a legacy of virgins aborted plans for three-class operation), the former shop (IIRC now used as bike space but can't easilly be converted to passenger space) the voyagers waste a lot of space. Crosscountry also have "proper" first class (with larger seats than standard class) which cuts into seating capacity.

Still I don't think the claim of a 3 car turbostar having more seats than a 4 car voyager is true, at least not if the turbostar has an intercity seating layout.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_220 a voyager has 200 seats, 174 standard class and 26 first class.

According to https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/media/1049/turbostar_seat_plan.pdf a three car crosscountry turbostar has 154 seats 145 standard class and 9 first class (there may also be some tip-up seats that aren't shown on the seating plan, I don't know if crosscountry units have those fitted or not..

It seems other operators pack more seats into their turbostars. https://eversholtrail.co.uk/fleet/class-170-and-171/ claims 18 first class, 167 standard class and 5 tip up. For a total of 185-190 seats depending on whether you count the tip up seats. I don't know if any operators have fitted a 5 across commuter style seating layout to a 3 car turbostar but if they did I can well imagine it would push the total over 200 seats.

 

[Mugby]

How exactly will the 'Performance linked fee' operate?

Does it mean that if performance becomes dire, Arriva will get nothing?

 

[computerSaysNo]

Still I don't think the claim of a 3 car turbostar having more seats than a 4 car voyager is true, at least not if the turbostar has an intercity seating layout.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_220 a voyager has 200 seats, 174 standard class and 26 first class.

According to https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/media/1049/turbostar_seat_plan.pdf a three car crosscountry turbostar has 154 seats 145 standard class and 9 first class (there may also be some tip-up seats that aren't shown on the seating plan, I don't know if crosscountry units have those fitted or not..

It seems other operators pack more seats into their turbostars. https://eversholtrail.co.uk/fleet/class-170-and-171/ claims 18 first class, 167 standard class and 5 tip up. For a total of 185-190 seats depending on whether you count the tip up seats. I don't know if any operators have fitted a 5 across commuter style seating layout to a 3 car turbostar but if they did I can well imagine it would push the total over 200 seats.

According to Wikipedia a (3 car) 159 has 172 standard and 24 first class seats. Is this correct (there are only 2 fewer standard and 2 fewer first class seats than a 4 car Voyager)? It's hard to believe that, for an entire extra carriage, the Voyager only has four seats more than a 159!