Rail passengers
and other interested groups in Essex are being asked for their
views on how train services could be improved, Rail Minister
Theresa Villiers announced today.
The 12-week consultation will give them the opportunity to say
what changes and improvements they would like to see delivered by
the new Essex Thameside franchise, which will be renewed in May
2013. Bidders will be invited to take on the new 15 year franchise.
This is part of the Government’s shake-up of the rail franchising
system to improve services and value for money. In future the
Government intends to set demanding ‘service quality’ standards
for train operators to achieve but give them more flexibility on
how best to deliver their services.
Theresa Villiers said:
“We are determined to ensure that the rail franchising process
delivers benefits for passengers and better value for money for
taxpayers while enhancing the current level of service.
“Over recent years, Whitehall has had too much say in the detail
of the way trains are run. I don’t believe that micromanagement is
the best way to improve services for passengers. I want to protect
the passenger by setting demanding outcomes for operators and give
more space to the professionals who run our railways to innovate
and decide the best way to achieve them.
“This will ensure the rail industry is able to respond more
quickly and flexibly to changing passenger concerns. I want
passengers and any other groups to tell us what they think about
what is important to them. This consultation provides an
opportunity for stakeholders to play a key role in shaping the
future of the Essex Thameside franchise.”
The consultation details what could be expected of the new
operator including rolling out smart ticketing technology,
improving stations and looking at the possibility of
differentiating between ‘metro style’ – high frequency, high
capacity - services near London and ‘suburban’ services for the
longer-distance journeys into Essex.
Operators will get more flexibility over the services they run
but the Government intends to continue to mandate the provision of
core levels of service. The Department for Transport is also
exploring options for measuring operators’ performance against
‘service quality’ standards, based on passenger satisfaction data
and ‘mystery shopper’ visits.
The reforms will include replacement of the controversial cap and
collar system used in a number of franchises over recent years
with an alternative mechanism providing better incentives for
operators to invest in service improvements.
Notes to Editors
1. The Essex Thameside consultation, which begins today, closes
on the 11 May 2012. The new franchise is due to start on 26 May 2013.
2. Each weekday 356 train services are run on the route, with 279
services on a Saturday and 160 on a Sunday, carrying over 35
million passenger journeys and 585 million passenger miles per year.
3. A copy of the full consultation document is available on the
Department's website at: http://dft.gov.uk/consultations.
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