ARmy Rumour SErvice

Originally Posted by alib

I just came across a phrase in US politics "toll booth economy",

That is a good phrase

Originally Posted by alib

It was really shite ten years ago

But the West Coast was going through total route modernisation courtesy of Railtrack and then Network Rail. Hardly the fault of Virgin.

Originally Posted by alib

Volumes on key roots will probably rise naturally especially if house price differentials with the capital open up.

I understood that prices are still falling across the board except for some exclusive Russian enclaves in London. Happy to be corrected.

Originally Posted by Kromeriz

...
I understood that prices are still falling across the board except for some exclusive Russian enclaves in London. Happy to be corrected.

Last I heard real estate was bullish in London, rising at about 2.5% PA driven by Eurozone capital flowing into London property.

There's also the possibility of a severe slump predicted, particularly in the exclusive London districts, perhaps as much as 50% in five years. A lot depends on what happens in the EZ and whether The City survives at its current scale, you pays your money and takes your choice.

The Midlands was predicted to rise at about 1%, so there's a differential. The periphery falls of 2% or so where predicted, that could all go tits up like property has N.Ireland in the past couple of years.

is 10% price hike year on year the same as growth? I think thats what first actually meant.

Originally Posted by arty762

First group will do just as it did with the Great Western franchise , run it till premiums become due , then walk away early , unbelivable that they are in the bidding again for the western franchise as they handed it back early , i'd like to see Southwest trains get it this time round.

You will find that it allowed an extension from 2013 to 2016, if they wanted to. So it did not walk away early. Add into the mix, not know when the initial franchise contract was awarded. That electrification works will take place in this time span through to S Wales. So rather than fcuk about with payments from FGW to Goverment, and then compo payments from Goverment to FGW during this time span. ALL partys agreed a new tender would be needed take account of the putting in overheads to S Wales. Thus saving taxpayers money.

D

Originally Posted by dave987

You will find that it allowed an extension from 2013 to 2016, if they wanted to. So it did not walk away early. Add into the mix, not know when the initial franchise contract was awarded. That electrification works will take place in this time span through to S Wales. So rather than fcuk about with payments from FGW to Goverment, and then compo payments from Goverment to FGW during this time span. ALL partys agreed a new tender would be needed take account of the putting in overheads to S Wales. Thus saving taxpayers money.

D

And yet there is the point that the best people to handle disruption were Fist GW management who had coped with the start of the Reading modernisation program, and I believe had corporate knowledge of other upgrades - loosing that corporate knowledge is going to cost a fortune - unless of course, Fist win a the new franchise with premiums built in to compensate them for disruption...

Originally Posted by school_for_scoundrels

First get away with that. From their point of view, it has proved such a successfull strategy, they get awarded the west coast mainline franchise for the next 15yrs, ffs. So that´s what`s coming to a west coast train near you from December. Shite service, better get used to it cos it`s the way ahead & the future with First.

I do wonder if this court action isn't more of a win-win scenario for Beardie. Think about it:

If he gets the decision overturned, he gets the profits back again.

If he doesn't get it overturned, he pretty much forces First group to big up winning the contract, and make it clear that Virgin ain't in charge any more. Given First's well-earned reputation for utterly abysmal service, reinforcing the notion in the public's minds that this is FIRST GROUP doing it and not Beardie is a propaganda coup.

I am also suspicious that Beardie might know much more than he's letting on. Suppose there's some infrastructure gotcha lurking on that railway or something like that? We already know that the Government are going to force fare increases; getting out from under a media backlash might well do Virgin group some good, especially as the aforementioned hirsute tit can then get on TV and gibber on about how he wouldn't have put fares up (yeah, right) like those horrible coves at First Group.

Thaere is about 20 years of signalling and traction upgrades ahead that should see us through to my sons retirement and he starts university next month! That's assuming the funding has been secured for the national ole and resignalling plans. In fact in 20 years there won't be a lever signal box left or a diesel engine if we believe them. On the southern we lose our boxes within 2 years apparently!

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I dont think First are really to blame for their poor service, not 100%, admittedly they lack a certain customer care but they are used to commuter routes rather than long haul for their big revenues and it isnt easy when you have to pack pax like the Eu wouldnt let you pack livestock because the promised upgrades and rolling stock isnt available.
The moving of stock from Southern to Thameslink isnt that bad for southern, it gives them leverage with DoT when it comes to franchise negotiation time. Thos companies which doe well with DoT tend to be those that get on with the job and dont make a big fuss regarding infrastructure problems. Remember that if you publicly bite the hand or at least snarl at the hand that feeds you it will rebound as Beardie is finding out! First will do ok, the trains on x country no longer smell of piss as they did when new and under virgin, its not much of a bench mark but enough to convince me!