[Update] FirstGroup WCML franchise Award revoked

Unfortunately, Arthur doesn't do links to the actual story.......

[MalteseFalcon]

Doing some digging re:the story Arthur mentioned in that quote on previous page. Found the following couple of stories:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...t-main-1263032

http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/person...-ahead-1260016

These might be the ones he was talking about.

[Sirius]

So the Government are going to ignore the petition site and push ahead with the signing, why have a set target to reach on the petition site if the Government are just going to ignore it anyway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19395621

Oh well. If First Group suddenly don't manage to provide their promises, if they start scaling back their ambitions in the next few months, prices don't go down, trains are quite as dependable or the extra £1 billion doesn't arrive then we'll start a new petition demanding Justine Greening's resignation.

FirstGroup has promised to cut standard fares by 15%, have more frequent trains and more seats, and introduce better wi-fi and food.

The firm said it would introduce 11 new 125mph six-car electric trains on the Birmingham to Glasgow route and provide more direct services between destinations.

If somehow they can't provide better trains, a more reliable service and cheaper prices all whilst giving an extra £1 billion then we know who to hold to account and they can't claim they weren't warned.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Damien

Oh well. If First Group suddenly don't manage to provide their promises, if they start scaling back their ambitions in the next few months, prices don't go down, trains are quite as dependable or the extra £1 billion doesn't arrive then we'll start a new petition demanding Justine Greening's resignation.

But they will just ignore that as well

Originally Posted by Sirius

So the Government are going to ignore the petition site and push ahead with the signing, why have a set target to reach on the petition site if the Government are just going to ignore it anyway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19395621

Why announce consultation sessions on every government proposal and then ignore those that consult..as in the BskyB fiasco.

Because you can claim you were listening without really listening.

[beeman]

The company, under the name First West Coast Limited,

For me this is the key bit. They always sign the contracts with a limited subsiduary, meaning that if things dont go well first group can just put the subsiduary into adminstration and walk away. Just like ITV sport did with its football rights.
IMO all government contracts should bee with the main parent company not a LTD subsiduary

[Sirius]

Its going to court

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19402133

Virgin Trains has said it has started court proceedings over the government's decision to award a new franchise to transport company FirstGroup.

Virgin had run the franchise since 1997, but lost to FirstGroup, prompting it to demand a review of the process.

Labour had also urged the government to delay the signing of the contract so that MPs could examine it.

But earlier Transport Secretary Justine Greening said there would be no delay in signing the FirstGroup deal.

Hard to see what case they could make? I want them to get the franchise but it seems more a case of a bad decision rather than an illegal one.

I've used both Virgin Trains and FirstGroup and personally, I wouldn't let FirstGroup run my own Train set.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Mick

I've used both Virgin Trains and FirstGroup and personally, I wouldn't let FirstGroup run my own Train set.

Seconded as l have used both throughout the years and the FirstGroup service has been shocking at times while when we had the Virgin franchise down here our family was always very impressed with their service and then the franchise came up for renewal and they made exactly the same mistake as what has happened to the West Coast franchise and handed it to someone else.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Mick

I've used both Virgin Trains and FirstGroup and personally, I wouldn't let FirstGroup run my own Train set.

Originally Posted by denphone

Seconded as l have used both throughout the years and the FirstGroup service has been shocking at times while when we had the Virgin franchise down here our family was always very impressed with their service and then the franchise came up for renewal and they made exactly the same mistake as what has happened to the West Coast franchise and handed it to someone else.

I used First Group trains to attend a meeting and the staff reminded me of the bad old days of British rail.

[Pierre]

It all smacks of desparation and sour grapes.

Virgin did not have a right to operate the service on the West Coast Line.

They entered into a tender process knowing they were up against others.

The process lasted 15months, plenty of time for them to get any and all the clarifications needed on how the bids would be assessed and weighted.

They were outbid. They lost, suck it up, stop crying and get on with it.

The railways are privatised, it's business, not altruism.

Now if First make a balls of it, then so be it. I see it happen in construction all the time.

Companies effectively buy work, knowing they'll make a loss on the bid as it stands, and hope they can make it profitable through the life of the project on cost savings, and claims.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19467510

The deal to hand the West Coast Main Line rail franchise to First Group is to be delayed following a legal challenge by current operator Virgin.
Virgin launched the challenge last week after losing its attempt to continue operating the route.
Ministers were expected to sign the deal with First Group several days ago.
But they have confirmed due to the legal challenge the contract has not been signed and "the competition remains live".

And more than 165,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the decision to be reconsidered.

A bit of common sense..finally.

[denphone]

Excellent news.