InterCity East Coast
|
| |
| Current operator | Virgin Trains East Coast |
|---|---|
| Main Route(s) | East Coast Main Line |
| Franchise dates |
28 Apr 96 - 8 Dec 2007 9 Dec 2007 - 13 Nov 2009 14 Nov 2009 - 28 Feb 2015 1 Mar 2015 - 31 Mar 2023 |
| Fleet size |
14 High Speed Train 31 InterCity 225 |
| Stations called at | 53 |
| Technical | |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
InterCity East Coast is a railway franchise for passenger trains on the East Coast Main Line in the United Kingdom from London King's Cross to Hull, Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen. It was formed during the privatisation of British Rail and transferred to the private sector in April 1996.
Initially operated by Great North Eastern Railway (GNER), it has since been operated by National Express East Coast and East Coast, and is now operated by Virgin Trains East Coast.
History
Great Northern Eastern Railway
In April 1996, Sea Containers operating under the GNER brand, commenced a seven-year contract to operate the franchise.[1]
In March 2000, the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority shortlisted Sea Containers and Virgin Rail Group to bid for the next franchise.[2] The franchise was to be for 20 years and included proposals for new trains and replacements of sections of track.[3][4] In January 2002, the Strategic Rail Authority scrapped the refranchising process and awarded a two-year extension to Sea Containers until April 2005.[5][6]
In October 2004, the Strategic Rail Authority issued an Invitation to Tender for the next franchise to the four shortlisted bidders, Danish State Railways/English Welsh & Scottish, FirstGroup, GNER and Virgin Rail Group.[7] In March 2005, the franchise was awarded to GNER for seven years, with a three-year extension based on targets being met, starting on 1 May 2005.[8] GNER committed to pay a £1.3 billion premium to the Department for Transport over ten years.[9]
However, due to the financial problems caused by it having overbid[10] as well as financial difficulties encountered by the parent company,[11] in December 2006 the government announced it was stripping the franchise from Sea Containers and would put it up for re-tender, with GNER running the franchise on fixed fee management contract in the interim.[12]
National Express East Coast
In February 2007, the Department for Transport announced Arriva, First, National Express and Virgin Rail Group had been shortlisted to lodge bids for the franchise.[13] In April 2007, it was announced that GNER had a 10% stake in the Virgin Rail Group bid.[14] In August 2007 the franchise was awarded to National Express,[15][16] and GNER's services transferred to National Express East Coast on 9 December 2007.
By 2009, NXEC was under increasing financial pressure due to rising fuel prices and the economic downturn. Instead of projected increases in revenue from the franchise, in the first half of 2009 NXEC ticket sales income decreased by 1%.[17] In April 2009, National Express confirmed that it was still pursuing talks with the government over possible financial assistance with the franchise, either through a reduction in the premium due, or other assistance.[18]
In July 2009, National Express announced it planned to default on the franchise, having failed to renegotiate the contractual terms of operation, and would not provide any further funding. This meant NXEC would run out of cash by the end of 2009.[19] As a result, the Department for Transport announced it would re-nationalise the franchise.
East Coast
The franchise was re-nationalised on 14 November 2009 with Directly Operated Railways' subsidiary East Coast taking over, with the intention being that operations would return to a private franchisee by December 2013.[20] In March 2013, the Secretary of State for Transport announced that this would be put back to February 2015.[21]
Virgin Trains East Coast
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In January 2014, FirstGroup, Keolis/Eurostar and Stagecoach/Virgin were announced as the shortlisted bidders for the new franchise.[22][23] In November 2014, the franchise was awarded to Stagecoach/Virgin, who trading as Virgin Trains East Coast commenced operating the franchise on 1 March 2015.[24][25][26]
Rolling stock
The franchise has always operated a fleet of High Speed Train and InterCity 225 trains. These were refurbished with new interiors in the mid-2000s. All are scheduled to be replaced by Class 800/801s.[27]
References
- ↑ "Sea Containers wins East Coast Main Line franchise" Rail issue 276 10 April 1996 page 10
- ↑ Six Companies Shortlisted for First Franchise Replacement Round Shadow Strategic Rail Authority 14 March 2000
- ↑ "Virgin plans new £6bn East Coast high-speed main line" Rail issue 378 8 March 2000 page 4
- ↑ "GNER's 20-year franchise proposals for the ECML" Rail 8 March 2000 page 7
- ↑ "High-speed GNER trains scrapped". BBC News. 16 January 2002.
- ↑ GNER Franchise Extended to 2005 Sea Containers 16 January 2002
- ↑ "Rail News Snippets". Railwatch. Railfuture. 11 October 2004.
- ↑ GNER wins second franchise term Railway Gazette. 1 May 2005.
- ↑ GNER pays £1.3bn for East Coast franchise Daily Telegraph 22 March 2005
- ↑ GNER's blockbuster bid clinches East Coast Line Daily Telegraph 23 March 2005
- ↑ GNER owner makes Chapter 11 move BBC News 16 October 2006
- ↑ GNER to surrender top train route BBC News 15 December 2006
- ↑ Four in East Coast rail shortlist BBC News 20 February 2007
- ↑ GNER in joint bid for top route BBC News 6 April 2007
- ↑ National Express awarded contract for growth on InterCity East Coast Department for Transport 14 August 2007
- ↑ National Express wins rail route BBC News 14 August 2007
- ↑ Q&A: National Express and East Coast line BBC News 1 July 2009
- ↑ National Express in talks over scrapping east coast franchise The Guardian 3 May 2009
- ↑ East Coast rail to be state-run BBC News 1 July 2009
- ↑ National Express East Coast franchise Department for Transport 1 July 2009
- ↑ Railway plan puts new focus on passengers Secretary of State for Transport 26 March 2013
- ↑ East Coast rail shortlist revealed BBC News 17 January 2014
- ↑ InterCity East Coast franchise shortlist announced Railway Gazette 17 January 2014
- ↑ More seats, more services and new trains for East Coast passengers Department for Transport 27 November 2014
- ↑ Stagecoach and Virgin win East Cost mainline rail franchise BBC News 27 November 2014
- ↑ 3.3bn premium wins East Coast franchise for Stagecoach and Virgin Railway Gazette 27 November 2014
- ↑ Government gives green light for more state-of-the-art intercity trains Department for Transport 18 July 2013
External links
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