northwichcat
Veteran Member
Northern Rail have the following as a franchise requirement:
In the case of some trains (particularly 142s with bus seats) broken seats have been removed but not replaced. Obviously Northern can't get new bus seats for trains due to them not meeting the latest standards even if they have grandfather (or dinosaur) rights on current trains.
To me removing broken seats is reducing the seated capacity of trains (with numbers specified elsewhere in the agreement) is changing the interior configuration and a breach of franchise agreement.
However, if you were to fit say 5 x 142s with the same type of seats as on the 450s and then use the usable seats removed from those 142s to replace seats on other 142s then the 5 refurbished 142s would have a change of interior configuration unless you can fit in exactly the same number of seats (unlikely) so again it would be a breach of franchise agreement.
So it seems to me it's a pointless clause when Northern have such an old fleet. I can see the same clause meaning something with TPE who have a modern fleet but not Northern.
DfT said:The Franchisee shall maintain the composition of the Train Fleet during the Franchise Term, unless the Secretary of State otherwise agrees, such that there are no changes to the Train Fleet, including changes:
16.1.1 to the classes or types;
16.1.2 to the interior configurations; or
16.1.3 which may reduce the journey time capabilities,
In the case of some trains (particularly 142s with bus seats) broken seats have been removed but not replaced. Obviously Northern can't get new bus seats for trains due to them not meeting the latest standards even if they have grandfather (or dinosaur) rights on current trains.
To me removing broken seats is reducing the seated capacity of trains (with numbers specified elsewhere in the agreement) is changing the interior configuration and a breach of franchise agreement.
However, if you were to fit say 5 x 142s with the same type of seats as on the 450s and then use the usable seats removed from those 142s to replace seats on other 142s then the 5 refurbished 142s would have a change of interior configuration unless you can fit in exactly the same number of seats (unlikely) so again it would be a breach of franchise agreement.
So it seems to me it's a pointless clause when Northern have such an old fleet. I can see the same clause meaning something with TPE who have a modern fleet but not Northern.