Direct Award plan for CrossCountry

By Andy Roden
|
17 October 2018
News

The Government could award a five-year Direct Award contract to run the CrossCountry franchise from 2019.

On October 13, it published a Prior Information Notice (PIN) in the Official Journal of the European Union. Publication of the PIN means the Department for Transport can choose to directly award a contract rather than holding a conventional franchise competition.

It follows Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling’s announcement of the Rail Review in September, in which the existing competition for the CrossCountry franchise was scrapped pending the review’s findings.

Should the Direct Award take place, the contract is likely to include a core period and an optional additional period. Arriva currently operates CrossCountry under a Direct Award, but this is due to expire in October 2019.

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Author: Andy Roden

Contributing Writer, RAIL

Andrew joined RAIL in 2000 as a news and features writer. He has written four books, covered the UK and international rail industries, and led 2005’s successful campaign to save the ‘Night Riviera’ sleeper train. He is also a regular commentator on rail matters on television and radio for RAIL.

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AndrewJG8918 - 17/10/2018 11:53

What about Arriva sorting out the Northern franchise. I think that they should end the franchise and allow the government to take over. As there are more strikes going to happen on Northern not just the remainder of this year but possibly into next year aswell. Arriva Northern are a disgrace.
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AndrewJG8918 - 17/10/2018 22:13

Will Arriva retain the Chiltern Railways franchise or will it be passed onto another bidder that could take over the Chiltern franchise such as Abellio, KeliosAmey, MTR, Trenitalia, First Group, Stagecoach, Govia/Go Ahead or joint venture between Abellio+JR East/Mitsui or First Group+MTR. That might win the contract to take over the Chiltern Railways franchise. When Arriva does lose its current franchise.
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AndrewJG8918 - 20/10/2018 11:27

I’ve noticed that Crosscountry has upgraded their Mk2/Mk3 carriages with new electric plug doors. Which looks really good and easier to access the train much quicker than opening the doors manually. Same with the ScotRail Class 43 Mk3s that entered service few weeks ago.
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