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===East Coast===
===East Coast===
The franchise was re-nationalised on 14 November 2009 with [[Directly Operated Railways]]' subsidiary [[East Coast (train operating company)|East Coast]] taking over, with the intention being that operations would return to a private franchisee by December 2013.<ref>[http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/eastcoastfranchise National Express East Coast franchise] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718041257/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/eastcoastfranchise |date=18 July 2009 }} Department for Transport 1 July 2009</ref> In March 2013, the [[Secretary of State for Transport]] announced that this would be put back to February 2015.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/franchise-announcement Railway plan puts new focus on passengers] Secretary of State for Transport 26 March 2013</ref>
The franchise was re-nationalised on 14 November 2009 with [[Directly Operated Railways]]' subsidiary [[East Coast (train operating company)|East Coast]] taking over, with the intention being that operations would return to a private franchisee by December 2013.<ref>[http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/eastcoastfranchise National Express East Coast franchise] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718041257/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/eastcoastfranchise |date=18 July 2009 }} Department for Transport 1 July 2009</ref> In March 2013, the [[Secretary of State for Transport]] announced that this would be put back to February 2015.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/franchise-announcement Railway plan puts new focus on passengers] Secretary of State for Transport 26 March 2013</ref>

[[File:Waverley station East Coast 91119.JPG|thumb|[[East Coast (train operating company)|East Coast]] [[InterCity 225]] at [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh Waverley station]] in June 2014]]


===Virgin Trains East Coast===
===Virgin Trains East Coast===

Revision as of 23:30, 5 February 2018

InterCity East Coast
Virgin Trains East Coast HST at Leeds station
Current operatorVirgin Trains East Coast
Main Route(s)East Coast Main Line
Fleet
Stations called at53
Dates of operation
  • 28 Apr 1996 – 8 Dec 2007
  • 9 Dec 2007 – 13 Nov 2009
  • 14 Nov 2009 – 28 Feb 2015
  • 1 Mar 2015 – 2018
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Other
Websitehttps://www.gov.uk/government/collections/rail-franchising#intercity-east-coast-franchise
London North Eastern Railway
Legend
 Inverness
Carrbridge
Aviemore
Kingussie
Newtonmore
Blair Atholl
Pitlochry
Dunkeld & Birnam
Perth
Gleneagles
Dunblane
Stirling
Falkirk Grahamston
Aberdeen
Stonehaven
Montrose
Arbroath
Dundee
Leuchars
Kirkcaldy
Inverkeithing
Haymarket Edinburgh Trams
Edinburgh Waverley Edinburgh Trams
Dunbar
Reston
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Alnmouth
Morpeth
Newcastle Tyne and Wear Metro
Durham
Darlington
Middlesbrough
Thornaby
Northallerton
Skipton
Keighley
Bradford Forster Square
York
Shipley
Harrogate
Horsforth
Hull Paragon
Brough
Selby
Leeds
Wakefield Westgate
Doncaster
Retford
Lincoln
Newark Northgate
Grantham
Peterborough
Stevenage
London King's Cross London Underground

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. In 2018 the early termination of the franchise, five years ahead of schedule, was announced.

History

Great Northern Eastern Railway

GNER InterCity 125 at King's Cross station in May 2007

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, FirstGroup, 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 (NXEC) 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]

East Coast InterCity 225 at Edinburgh Waverley station in June 2014

Virgin Trains East Coast

The current holder is Virgin East Coast, an Intercity 125 of whom is seen here at Leeds station.

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]

In November 2017 Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced the early termination of the East Coast franchise in 2020, three years ahead of schedule, following losses on the route by the operator. Virgin Trains East Coast had been due to pay more than £2 billion in franchise premiums to the government over the last four years of its contract.[27][28] In February 2018, this was brought forwards to "a small number of months".[29]

Rolling stock

The franchise has always operated a fleet of InterCity 125 and InterCity 225 trains. These were refurbished with new interiors in the mid-2000s. All are scheduled to be replaced by Class 800/801s.[30]

References

  1. ^ "Sea Containers wins East Coast Main Line franchise". Rail. No. 276. Peterborough: Bauer Media Group. 10 April 1996. p. 10.
  2. ^ Six Companies Shortlisted for First Franchise Replacement Round Shadow Strategic Rail Authority 14 March 2000
  3. ^ "Virgin plans new £6bn East Coast high-speed main line". Rail. No. 378. Peterborough: Bauer Media Group. 8 March 2000. p. 4.
  4. ^ "GNER's 20-year franchise proposals for the ECML". Rail. No. 378. Peterborough: Bauer Media Group. 8 March 2000. p. 7.
  5. ^ "High-speed GNER trains scrapped". BBC News. BBC. 16 January 2002. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  6. ^ GNER Franchise Extended to 2005 Sea Containers 16 January 2002
  7. ^ "Rail News Snippets". Railwatch. Railfuture. 11 October 2004. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "GNER wins second franchise term". Railway Gazette International. Sutton: DVV Media Group. 1 May 2005. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  9. ^ "GNER pays £1.3bn for East Coast franchise". The Daily Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group. 22 March 2005. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  10. ^ Osborne, Alistair (23 March 2005). "GNER's blockbuster bid clinches East Coast Line". The Daily Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  11. ^ "GNER owner makes Chapter 11 move". BBC News. BBC. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  12. ^ "GNER to surrender top train route". BBC News. BBC. 15 December 2006. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Four in East Coast rail shortlist". BBC News. BBC. 20 February 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  14. ^ "GNER in joint bid for top route". BBC News. BBC. 6 April 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  15. ^ National Express awarded contract for growth on InterCity East Coast Department for Transport 14 August 2007
  16. ^ "National Express wins rail route". BBC News. BBC. 14 August 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  17. ^ "Q&A: National Express and East Coast line". BBC News. BBC. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  18. ^ Milo, Dan (3 May 2009). "National Express in talks over scrapping east coast franchise". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  19. ^ "East Coast rail shortlist revealed". BBC News. BBC. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  20. ^ National Express East Coast franchise Archived 18 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Department for Transport 1 July 2009
  21. ^ Railway plan puts new focus on passengers Secretary of State for Transport 26 March 2013
  22. ^ "East Coast rail shortlist revealed". BBC News. BBC. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  23. ^ "InterCity East Coast franchise shortlist announced". Railway Gazette International. Sutton: DVV Media Group. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  24. ^ More seats, more services and new trains for East Coast passengers Department for Transport 27 November 2014
  25. ^ "Stagecoach and Virgin win East Coast mainline rail franchise". BBC News. BBC. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  26. ^ "£3.3bn premium wins East Coast franchise for Stagecoach and Virgin". Railway Gazette International. Sutton: DVV Media Group. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  27. ^ Elder, Bryce (29 November 2017). "Stagecoach soars after government intervenes on contract". Financial Times. London: Nikkei. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  28. ^ Topham, Gwyn (29 November 2017). "East Coast rail 'bailout' could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  29. ^ "Update on the East Coast, West Coast and East Midlands rail franchises - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  30. ^ Government gives green light for more state-of-the-art intercity trains Department for Transport 18 July 2013
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