The two train companies vying to run Sussex train services expect to hear who has been successful this month.
Connex, which currently holds the South Central franchise, is competing with Govia for the contract. Yesterday, Keith Ludeman of Govia put his company's case. Today, Connex chairman and chief executive Antoine Hurel says why his firm should remain in charge and what it will do if it wins.
As we await the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority's decision as to who will be awarded the replacement South Central franchise, many people are asking: "Why Connex?"
Since we took over the franchise, passenger demand has grown by 25 per cent and we are now providing some 109 million passenger journeys a year in south London, Sussex and parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset.
In achieving this huge task, we are using many slam-door trains which date from the Sixties and run on infrastructure built in Victorian times.
Despite perceptions of a patchy quality of service, our track record since May 1996 has been a generally good one.
Our international background and extensive global experience demonstrates our long-term commitment to provision of high- quality and cost-effective surface public transport.
Our management skills and financial strengths have enabled us to rise to the challenge of rail operation in the United Kingdom and we have fulfilled entirely the terms of our current contract.
We are, in fact, running 200 more trains a day than when we took over the franchise, have demonstrated our commitment to integrated public transport and have introduced innovative and successful services.
The popularity of our cross-London service between Gatwick Airport and Rugby, a post-privatisation "first" in running outside a franchise area, has grown significantly since its introduction two years ago and has recently been extended to serve Brighton.
Our twice-hourly all day Brighton Express link between London, Croydon and Brighton, using remodelled and refurbished sliding-door trains which feature high-quality on-board catering, has increased demand by 15 per cent and the enhancement and rebranding of Connex Metro has been a similar success story.
Since the early days of our franchise, we have embraced and supported the concept of integrated public transport, with through-ticketing and links with bus operators in South Coast towns and resorts.
Our policy has now taken several steps forward with our contract operation of two bus routes linking south and central London which serve many of our Metro stations and the first Coach Connex service between Lewes and Uckfield, which has restored the first direct public transport links in the area for more than 30 years.
As part of the international Vivendi Environment group, Connex is able to draw on a wealth of experience of surface transport operations around the world - heavy rail, light rail and bus - as well as strong financial support and management expertise.
The Connex brand has been adopted for our worldwide transport operations in recognition of our achievements in the UK.
Following an intensive and successful recruitment campaign, we have 250 new train drivers in training and, as they qualify, they will enable us to restore our services to the high levels of last year, far in excess of the requirements of our contract.
With our industrial relations problems behind us, we look forward with confidence to implementing the improved services central to our £1.45 billion investment proposals for the replacement South Central franchise currently being considered by the SSRA.
We are confident that our bid for the replacement franchise is robust, represents good value for money and is capable of transforming rail travel in our area.
Our proposed £1.45 billion investment in new trains, upgraded stations and extensive infrastructure improvements to create two new main lines between the Sussex coast and London will increase capacity to meet growing demand and improve punctuality and reliability to enable tighter performance targets to be met.
Already, our £17 million state-of-the-art customer information system giving real time and comprehensive train running details driven from the trains' track positions is operational at some 50 South Central Metro stations and will be at all Connex stations by the end of next year.
Also, real time train running information is now available on the Connex website.
The first of the fleet of new air-conditioned sliding-door Class 375 trains ordered to start the replacement of slam-door trains on Kent and Sussex Coast routes, at a cost of £400 million, is currently undergoing testing by manufacturer Adranz and we shall introduce the new trains progressively during next year.
The first 240 coaches for Sussex Coast have been ordered outside any franchise commitment and, if we secure the replacement franchise, we will replace all remaining South Central slam-door trains by the end of 2002 using options contained in our supply contracts.
We shall also provide new air-conditioned trains for Metro services.
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