Two firms are expecting to hear this month which has won a franchise to run Sussex train services.
Connex, which currently holds the franchise, is competing with Govia for the contract. We challenged both firms to explain why they should win. Today, Keith Ludeman, managing director of the trains division of Govia, puts his company's case. Tomorrow, Connex's chief executive Antoine Hurel will explain why it should be the victor.
Govia, the company who runs Thameslink, has made a £1.5 billion bid for the South Central Rail Franchise currently run by Connex.
With wide experience in running both train and bus systems throughout the UK, the company is well placed to take up the new challenge, a challenge it has branded 'The New Southern Railway'.
The bid is an extensive document, but there are four fundamental pillars which will create lasting benefits for customers in terms of improved comfort, more frequent services and better communications.
In launching the bid Govia has coined the phrase The Welcoming Network.
This is no mere catch phrase. It identifies our goals, a recognition of what the customer seeks and our intent to deliver a much improved rail service.
The four fundamental pillars are improvement to infrastructure, new trains, intensive staff training and refurbishment of all 158 stations within the South Central region.
Infrastructure improvement is the key to achieving a better service.
The Brighton mainline is probably one of the busiest in the country through increased demand and increased services.
There is currently no room to run additional services. Govia has identified key congestion areas along the route as part of its bid, for example, Gatwick and East Croydon, and has committed to investment in infrastructure improvements that will enable more trains to be run on the route, more frequently.
We can bring in as many new trains as we like but if the track and signalling cannot cope with the demand then there is little point. The infrastructure improvements we have identified will create the capacity we seek for the coming years.
Additionally, the company is committed to upgrading the second line between London and the coast via Dorking and the Arun Valley, thus providing two fast routes to London.
A third route between Oxted and Uckfield will be electrified and Govia will look at the possibility of extending this route onwards to Lewes. Combined, these routes will ease congestion and create the right environment for more frequent services.
There will be a mixture of fast and stopping services and it is intended that enough trains will be brought into service to ensure a combination of 12 and eight-carriage trains on all services to and from the Sussex coast.
The company has also undertaken to remove all slam door Mark 1 rolling stock from service by December 2004 and for this we will introduce a minimum of 552 new carriages.
The full growth plan over the life of the franchise demands the introduction of no less than 1,000 carriages and Govia has committed to this plan in the bid.
Specifications are being drawn up and it is confirmed that all trains will be fitted with the most reliable safety systems specified for the UK.
Additionally, each train will be fitted with self diagnostic equipment, enabling faults arising to be spotted quickly and rectified in minimum time, thus ensuring trains remain in service for longer periods.
But what is more important is recruitment and training of staff. Govia believes that it is essential to recruit an additional 100 drivers over and above the existing commitment to ensure that the services they seek to provide can be met.
Additionally an on-going programme of staff training and the recruitment of at least 60 new customer relations staff in the first year of the franchise are key goals to ensuring better services, better customer information and better care at the stations.
Govia has earmarked at least £1 million a year to be spent on training and giving staff the encouragement and tools to make sure that customers travelling on Southern trains will have a pleasurable experience.
All stations will be redeveloped or refurbished between 2001 and 2010. Principal stations will be transformed into large "community retail and service centres" encompassing a variety of shopping activities, permanent manning and a structural redesign. "State of the art" CCTV and an overall greater level of services will be developed.
Finally, in developing the New Southern Railway, Govia intends to form a stakeholder board, which will be a monitoring, advisory and consultative forum, including representatives of local authorities, unions and customers as well as the investors who will develop the Welcoming Network.
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