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'''National Express East Coast''' is the name under which the new [[train operating company]] '''NXEC Trains Ltd''' has stated it will operate the [[InterCity]] East Coast rail franchise, which includes services in [[England]] and [[Scotland]]. NXEC Trains is a subsidiary of [[National Express Group]] and has been awarded the franchise to run the [[East Coast Main Line]] services after the previous franchise holder [[GNER]] got into financial difficulties. GNER will continue to operate the franchise under a management contract until the new franchise begins on [[9 December]] [[2007]].<ref>{{cite web|author=National Express Group |url=http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/nx/mc/companynews/pressrelease/?id=4336196|title=East Coast Franchise Press Release|date=[[August 14]], [[2007]]|accessdate=2007-08-14}}</ref>
'''National Express East Coast''' is the name under which the new [[train operating company]] '''NXEC Trains Ltd''' has stated it will operate the [[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity]] East Coast rail franchise, which includes services in [[England]] and [[Scotland]]. NXEC Trains is a subsidiary of [[National Express Group]] and has been awarded the franchise to run the [[East Coast Main Line]] services after the previous franchise holder [[GNER]] got into financial difficulties. GNER will continue to operate the franchise under a management contract until the new franchise begins on [[9 December]] [[2007]].<ref>{{cite web|author=National Express Group |url=http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/nx/mc/companynews/pressrelease/?id=4336196|title=East Coast Franchise Press Release|date=[[August 14]], [[2007]]|accessdate=2007-08-14}}</ref>


== Bidding process ==
== Bidding process ==

Revision as of 19:57, 15 September 2007

Template:Future public transportation

Franchise(s)InterCity East Coast
9 December 2007 – 31 March 2015
Main region(s)East Midlands, Yorkshire,
North East England, Central Scotland, Northern Scotland
Other region(s)London
Fleet31 Class 91 electric locomotives

30 InterCity 225 sets

11 HST sets
Stations called at49
Parent companyNational Express Group
Other
Websitewww.youreastcoast.co.uk/

National Express East Coast is the name under which the new train operating company NXEC Trains Ltd has stated it will operate the InterCity East Coast rail franchise, which includes services in England and Scotland. NXEC Trains is a subsidiary of National Express Group and has been awarded the franchise to run the East Coast Main Line services after the previous franchise holder GNER got into financial difficulties. GNER will continue to operate the franchise under a management contract until the new franchise begins on 9 December 2007.[1]

Bidding process

The InterCity East Coast Franchise was operated from the start of privatisation in 1996 by GNER. In 2005, GNER's franchise was renewed for a further ten years. However due to financial difficulties related to GNER's parent company Sea Containers Ltd the Department for Transport announced in November 2006 that it was to withdraw the franchise from GNER and start a new bidding process. GNERs financial difficulties were also exacerbated by the downturn of passenger numbers in the wake of the London bombings and premium payment it had agreed to pay to the DfT during the lifetime of its franchise. Between the government announcement and the start of the new franchise, GNER entered into a management contract to run the franchise. Interested parties submitted their bids to the DfT on the 15 January 2007[2] with details of the bids made public on 20 February 2007.[3]

The shortlisted bidders were:[4]

The Department for Transport announced on 14 August 2007 that the InterCity franchise would be run under a new franchise operated by NXEC Trains Ltd as National Express East Coast.[5][6]

Routes

NXEC route
Legend
Inverness
Carrbridge
Aviemore
Kingussie
Newtonmore
Blair Atholl
Pitlochry
Dunkeld & Birnam
Perth
Gleneagles
Dunblane
Stirling
Falkirk
Aberdeen
Stonehaven
Montrose
Arbroath
Dundee
Leuchars
Kirkcaldy
Inverkeithing
Glasgow Central
Motherwell
 
Haymarket
Edinburgh Waverley
Dunbar
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Alnmouth
Morpeth
Newcastle Tyne and Wear Metro
Durham
Darlington
Northallerton
York
Harrogate
Horsforth
Skipton
Keighley
Shipley
Bradford Forster Square
Leeds
Wakefield Westgate
Hull
Brough
Selby
Doncaster
Retford
Lincoln
Newark North Gate
Grantham
Peterborough
Stevenage
London King's Cross London Underground

Also served

Lincoln

Also as part of the new franchise, National Express East Coast have promised a direct service to the city of Lincoln. This is due to happen by 2010. [7]

Rolling stock

The new franchise will inherit the rolling stock currently operated by GNER, which encompasses Class 43 diesel locomotives and Mark 3 coaching stock (InterCity 125), and Class 91 electric locomotives and Mark 4 Mallard coaches (InterCity 225). The InterCity 125 rolling stock is currently undergoing an upgrade to Mallard standard. In addition, the Class 43 locomotives are being re-engined as part of a life-extension upgrade. In line with the additional services in 2010, National Express East Coast will hire four rakes of refurbished locomotive hauled Mark 3 coach sets which according to the Department for Transport will be hauled by Class 90 electric locomotives hired from EWS.[8] However, as part of the new franchise agreement, the franchise holder will be required to take part in the Intercity Express Programme, which will see a new high speed train replace both the 125 and 225 units.

Initial fleet

 Class  Image  Type   Top speed   Number   Routes operated   Built 
 mph   km/h 
Class 43 Diesel locomotives 125 200 14 East Coast Main Line 1976 – 1982
Class 91 Electric locomotive 140 225 33 East Coast Main Line 1988 - 1991
Mark 3 coach Passenger Rolling stock East Coast Main Line 1975 - 1988
Mark 4 coach Passenger Rolling stock 302 East Coast Main Line 1989 - 1991

Future fleet

 Class  Image  Type   Top speed   Number   Routes operated   Built 
 mph   km/h 
Class 90 Electric locomotive 110 177 4 (planned) East Coast Main Line 1987 - 1990

References

  1. ^ National Express Group (August 14, 2007). "East Coast Franchise Press Release". Retrieved 2007-08-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Competition commences for operator of InterCity East Coast franchise". Department for Transport.
  3. ^ "Consultation document for the InterCity East Coast franchise". Department for Transport.
  4. ^ "Stock Exchange statement - Department for Transport announces pre-qualified bidders for Intercity East Coast Franchise". Department for Transport. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  5. ^ "National Express awarded contract for growth on InterCity East Coast". Department for Transport. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
  6. ^ BBC News (August 14, 2007). "National Express wins rail route". Retrieved 2007-08-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "London route 'will boost county'". BBC News. 2007-08-15. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
  8. ^ Tuplin, Richard; Morrison, Brian; Whitehouse, John (August 17, 2007), "New brand image for East Coast as franchise goes to National Express" (PDF), The Railway Herald, pp. Page 3 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)

See also


Preceded by Operator of InterCity East Coast franchise
From 9th December 2007 		Succeeded by
N/A


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