The Crosscountry contract is due to run out on the 18th October 2020, any news on an extension or a take over of the franchise?

I'd imagine with the current goings on the franchise may be extended once again.

That's true, was just wondering incase it was released before the Coronavirus crisis.

That's true, was just wondering incase it was released before the Coronavirus crisis.

I imagine any work which has gone on behind the scenes to prepare bids, will be totally irrelevant now. 
Bids will have been submitted, based on growth, loadings and data which could be way off due to the whole Covid19 thing. 

Saying that, I imagine that would be the case for most tenders won over the last 18 months or so. Regardless of the sector.

I imagine any work which has gone on behind the scenes to prepare bids, will be totally irrelevant now. 
Bids will have been submitted, based on growth, loadings and data which could be way off due to the whole Covid19 thing. 

Saying that, I imagine that would be the case for most tenders won over the last 18 months or so. Regardless of the sector.

Ye, seems a waste now.

It might take them up to a year or more to get back to normal, so ye, i think all the operators will get an automatic extension of their franchises.

Ye, seems a waste now.

It might take them up to a year or more to get back to normal, so ye, i think all the operators will get an automatic extension of their franchises.

The pessimist/realist in me, sees more than one company failing or handing back the keys early. Regardless of automatic extensions.
For some, the numbers just won't add up, if we see more home working or other changes in social and business habits.

The pessimist/realist in me, sees more than one company failing or handing back the keys early. Regardless of automatic extensions.
For some, the numbers just won't add up, if we see more home working or other changes in social and business habits.

They're all being ran as management contracts for the moment anyway where the Government takes all the revenue risk, due to current Covid situation.

They're all being ran as management contracts for the moment anyway where the Government takes all the revenue risk, due to current Covid situation.

But going forward they won't be. Once that liability is switched, I can see the problems coming to the fore.

Arriva Group welcomes new contract for CrossCountry Trains

https://news.arriva.co.uk/news/arriva-gr..._B1Kei1BC0

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-br...type=owned&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_link_id=B39BFDC8-EB45-11EE-B2B2-4D2D8161DE7E&at_link_type=web_link&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_link_origin=BBC_Radio_Newcastle&at_medium=social&at_format=link&fbclid=IwAR3g9b9ETcprEcDs3ciCK6QiZfNwUV0J54Nn3QrTapnKAXQqqVkkW9laStw

Additional stock for CrossCountry.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-br...type=owned&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_link_id=B39BFDC8-EB45-11EE-B2B2-4D2D8161DE7E&at_link_type=web_link&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_link_origin=BBC_Radio_Newcastle&at_medium=social&at_format=link&fbclid=IwAR3g9b9ETcprEcDs3ciCK6QiZfNwUV0J54Nn3QrTapnKAXQqqVkkW9laStw

Additional stock for CrossCountry.

I think people were hoping all the Avanti 221's would transfer to finally fix the mistakes of Operation Princess after 20 odd years. I wil say Its a decent upgrade though.

They are getting 12 all together now

They are getting 12 all together now

How many would they need to have every route as a double set. Also why are their fares so high?

How many would they need to have every route as a double set. Also why are their fares so high?

I don't know ive heard there are 34 different diagrams needed every day so 68, theyve got 54 so theyll have 62 i think. 

But they want to expand Newcastle-Reading increased to hourly, and there are some frequency reductions around yorkshire and manchester which are massively struggling so they might have a frequency increase too.

But it depends if the DFT will give them anymore as there could be several options 

Avanti 221 get either lengthened and keep the buffet car or keep the same and remove the buffet car, but what you could do is extend the Avanti to 6/7 car and shorten some of the 4 cars to 3 for emptier services or to put 3 trains together say 5/5/3 to create a 13 car train as some XC even dualled up are at capacity. Same with the Merdian if they could get the 7 car trains which theyve got then attacch a 4 to them for the busiest services, meanwhile some 5 cars can go onto the Liverpool-Norwich Line leaving the remaning to go over to XC to boost capacity and add new routes. 

The fares are ridiculous to go from Newcastle to Reading its cheaper to go via Kings Cross and Paddington. But before COVID they used to return to the govement but now it's got one of the highest subsideys

Are they reinstating the hourly Newcastle-Reading? Sure it was this before Covid, along with an hourly Edinburgh/Scotland-South West service. Would be nice to see 2 XC trains per hour again to Newcastle.

Are they reinstating the hourly Newcastle-Reading? Sure it was this before Covid, along with an hourly Edinburgh/Scotland-South West service. Would be nice to see 2 XC trains per hour again to Newcastle.

I think the Reading service is only going to be every 2 hours from Newcastle from next year with alternate journeys only running Reading to York.