South Western franchise explained

South Western
Nameforarea:Route
Regions:South West Main Line
Portsmouth Direct Line
West of England Main Line
Waterloo to Reading Line
Operator:South Western Railway
Fleet:367
Stations:213
Stationsop:185
Website:www.southwesternrailway.com

South Western is a railway franchise for the provision of passenger services from London Waterloo to destinations in Surrey, Hampshire, Somerset, Dorset, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Devon on the South West, Portsmouth Direct and West of England main lines. In 2007, the franchise was combined with the smaller franchise for the Island Line on the Isle of Wight.

History

South West Trains

See main article: South West Trains.

In December 1995, the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising awarded the franchise to South West Trains, a subsidiary of Stagecoach.[1] [2] Operations started on 4 February 1996.[3]

In April 2001, the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) awarded Stagecoach a new franchise after it beat bids from FirstGroup/NedRailways and Sea Containers.[4] [5] [6] The 2001 franchises awarded were (as promulgated) to run for 20 years, but in 2002 the SRA reduced the duration of franchises and South West Trains was awarded a three-year franchise starting on 1 February 2004.[7] [8]

In December 2005, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that Arriva, FirstGroup, MTR/Sea Containers, National Express and Stagecoach had been shortlisted to tender for the new South Western franchise, which combined the South West Trains and Island Line Trains franchises, both being operated by Stagecoach.[9] [10] [11] National Express and MTR/Sea Containers later withdrew.[12] [13] In September 2006, the DfT awarded the franchise to Stagecoach commencing on 4 February 2007 for a period of ten years.[14] [15] [16]

In March 2013, the Secretary of State for Transport announced the DfT were in talks with Stagecoach to extend the franchise until April 2019.[17] However, after failing to negotiate an extension, in July 2015 the DfT announced the franchise would be relet.[18] [19] [20]

South Western Railway

See main article: South Western Railway (train operating company).

In February 2016, the DfT announced FirstGroup and Stagecoach had been shortlisted to bid for the next franchise.[21] [22] In June 2016, MTR took a 30% shareholding in the FirstGroup bid.[23] [24]

In July 2016, the DfT issued the Invitation to Tender.[25] [26] In March 2017, the DfT awarded the franchise to First/MTR owned South Western Railway (SWR) to commence on 20 August 2017. It will run until at least August 2024, with an option for the DfT to extend for a further year.[27] [28]

In 2021, following COVID-19 emergency measures, the DfT gave SWR a direct award contract, replacing its franchise, until 28 May 2023.[29] In February 2023, this was further extended until 25 May 2025.[30]

Notes and References

  1. Bus firm Stagecoach is first franchisee . . 269 . 3 January 1996 . 8.
  2. "First three franchises let" Rail Privatisation News issue 21 11 January 1996 page 1
  3. News: Puzzled private train spotters go for the 5.10 from Twickenham. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/puzzled-private-train-spotters-go-for-the-5-10-from-twickenham-1317159.html . 24 May 2022 . subscription . live. Wolmar. Christian. Christian Wolmar. 4 February 1996. The Independent. 18 January 2021.
  4. Re. South West Trains. 2 April 2001. Stagecoach Group. Investegate. FE fundinfo. 18 January 2021.
  5. "Stagecoach to keep SWT" Rail Business Intelligence issue 148 12 April 2001 page 6
  6. SWT retains franchise - and places Britain's biggest-ever train order . . 1202 . June 2001 . 8.
  7. SRA cuts SWT's new franchise plan from 20 years to just three . . 448 . 13 November 2002 . 4.
  8. Stagecoach Group signs new South West Trains deal. 11 July 2003. Stagecoach Group. 18 January 2021.
  9. Five on DFT's South Western franchise bidder shortlist . . 530 . 4 January 2006 . 9.
  10. Five prequlify for South Western . . 50 . February 2006 . 10.
  11. http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-south-western-brief/ South Western stakeholder briefing
  12. National Express pulls out of SWT battle . . 536 . 29 March 2006 . 16.
  13. GNER quits South West race . . 542 . 21 June 2006 . 12.
  14. News: Stagecoach wins railway franchise. 22 September 2006. BBC News. 18 January 2021.
  15. News: Stagecoach wins South West Trains contract. Davidson. Ros. 22 September 2006. The Guardian. 18 January 2021.
  16. Stagecoach wins South Western franchise . . 59 . November 2006 . 8.
  17. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/franchise-announcement Railway plan puts new focus on passengers
  18. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33436408 South West Trains franchise out to competition
  19. http://www.railwaygazette.com/en/news/ports/single-view/view/south-west-trains-to-be-refranchised.html South West Trains to be refranchised
  20. No direct franchise for South West Trains in 2017 . . 779 . 22 July 2015 . 8.
  21. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/two-companies-shortlisted-to-compete-for-the-next-south-western-rail-franchise Two companies shortlisted to compete for the next South Western rail franchise
  22. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/stagecoach-and-firstgroup-shortlisted-for-south-western-franchise.html Stagecoach and FirstGroup shortlisted for South Western franchise
  23. http://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/2016/06/16/mtr-and-first-partner-for-south-western-bid MTR and First partner for South Western bid
  24. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/mtr-joins-firstgroups-bid-for-south-western-rail-franchise.html MTR joins FirstGroup's bid for South Western rail franchise
  25. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/better-journeys-on-the-way-for-rail-passengers-across-the-south-western-network Better journeys on the way for rail passengers across the South Western network
  26. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/south-western-invitations-to-tender-issued.html South Western invitation to tender issued
  27. http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/FGP/13171647.html FirstGroup and MTR welcome South Western rail franchise award
  28. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/europe/single-view/view/first-mtr-joint-venture-wins-south-western-franchise.html First MTR joint venture wins South Western franchise
  29. Web site: National Rail Contract South Western . 19 May 2021 . Department for Transport . 6 March 2023.
  30. News: South Western Railway contract extended . Rail News . 10 February 2023 . 6 March 2023.

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