Opinion
campaign in Parliament to keep the franchise in the public sector will continue once MPs return from recess. Nevertheless, the DfT is engaging with potential bidders and intends to publish the OJEU notice in October before issuing the ITT next February. Labour will be sure to pounce on any significant delays to the procurement but for now the government seems on course to make ICEC the first franchise to be tendered under the new procurement timetable. The East Coast ITT will also provide something of a litmus test as to how many of the Brown recommendations find their way into franchise specifications, building on the government’s response which was published in July.
Crossrail
The next step for Crossrail will be the publication of the operating contract ITT, due this month according to the Minister responsible, Stephen Hammond MP. The competition for the new fixed- term concession agreement to operate the services will be contested by Arriva, Keolis/Go Ahead, MTR and National Express, with TfL due to announce the winning bidder by September 2014. DfT is working closely with TfL to ensure that the requirements of the Crossrail operating contract are reflected in
HS2
In the face of a difficult few months in the media, the high speed rail project retains cross party support (for now) and the government has stated its intention to deposit the Hybrid Bill for HS2 Phase One before the end of 2013 and we can expect that to happen in October. The final Environmental Statement will be also be published alongside the Hybrid Bill, providing parliamentarians with information on any significant environmental effects likely to result
Providing Railway Surveys for 30 Years
3D Laser Scanning Tunnel BIM Aerial LiDAR Mapping GIS Monitoring Surveys of
Underground Utilities, Tracks & Structures
e
the new or extended franchises which will operate on the Great Western and Greater Anglia routes. Infrastructure works continue to progress ahead of schedule with the project well on the way to achieving the target of completing the first tunnels by the end of this year. Siemens has recently pulled out of the bidding for the rolling stock contract, leaving Bombardier, Hitachi and CAF in the competition. This is likely to be a two-horse race as CAF may well struggle with the ‘responsible procurement’ provisions included in the tender. Despite the change announced in March away from private finance, the overall schedule for the award of the rolling stock and depot contract remains unchanged, with a targeted contract award date of mid-2014.
from Phase One so that they can be taken into account before Parliament decides whether or not to grant the powers to build the railway. Progress will be neither quick nor straightforward but there is no danger of cancellation this side of the general election.
Department for Transport
Then, as we move towards the end of the year, DfT will set out its plans for the future location of rail franchise functions, drawing on the Brown Review and Infrastructure Minister Lord Deighton’s work on improving delivery of major infrastructure projects. This could well result in the creation of an OPRAF-style arms-length body with more ‘commercial expertise’ than currently exists in the DfT. This would please Louise Ellman MP and Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP and their respective parliamentary committee memberships who are not convinced that the DfT as currently structured is best placed both to set rail policy and deliver the detailed work required to run each franchise competition.
So while we have enjoyed a brief summer respite and time to enjoy the cricket, a packed autumn in rail
awaits us. • Jay Turner is Client manager at Freshwater Public Affairs
www.freshwater-uk.com
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