The future of West Coast rail franchise is now in disarray as the planned start date for the next contract is now set to be postponed by the Government for at least ten months.
It means the shortlist of bidders for the franchise, Abellio, FirstGroup, Keolis/SNCF and Virgin Trains, are still unaware of who will manage the franchise. Considering that the West Coast route is Britain’s most profitable train franchise- earning the Government more than £100m a year such chaotic delays should not be happening. Ministers and staff need to stay on the same page. In the lead up to the London 2012 Olympics they need to work together.
The Department of Transport is also struggling to deal with the most ambitious plans for franchise reforms in 25 years at the same time as almost a third of rail contracts are due to be re-let. The fact that both Virgin and the DfT refused to comment suggests that dark forces are at work and, as usual, the fare paying public is the last to know.
