17.08.15
Campaigners urge better trains and services in new East Anglia franchise
The franchise specification for the new East Anglia franchise from October 2016 has been delayed by at least a month.
The invitation to tender and accompany detailed documentation was originally due this month, but the DfT website now suggests it will be September.
Campaigners hoping to improve the quality of services in the region say they are “nervous” the delay will be even longer, given the reviews taking place at the moment about the future of Network Rail and the shape of the railways.
The three shortlisted bidders are a joint venture between incumbent Abellio and Stagecoach, FirstGroup and National Express.
Cllr Kevin Bentley, deputy leader of Essex County Council and deputy chair of the London Stansted Cambridge Consortium (LSCC) said: “After recent reports of ‘fleas on the line’ people are literally itching for new trains. We are calling for the DfT to ensure the new franchise will be published quickly and that it will deliver the improvements to services, rolling stock and passenger experience that are so badly needed.
“We will also continue to make the case for significant investment in the rail infrastructure, including the delivery of four-tracking in the Lea Valley.”
The LSCC wants faster and more frequent services to Stansted Airport and Cambridge. It also wants the new franchise to be operated by more new Class 379 Electrostars, rather than “hand-me-down refurbishments of old rolling stock”.
Some passengers are unhappy with the plans to refurbish the Class 321s, built in the late 1980s at York.
Full details of LSCC’s investment proposals are here.