Msts West Coast Express Transportation
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Franchise(s) | West Coast Partnership 8 Dec 2019 - 31 March 2031 |
| Main region(s) | Greater London West Midlands North West England North Wales Scotland |
| Parent company | FirstGroup (70%) Trenitalia (30%) |
| Website | www.westcoastrail.co.uk |
Company Snapshot WEST COAST EXPRESS TRUCKING INC USDOT Number: 2004178. SS Mayaguez was a U.S.-flagged container ship that attained notoriety for its 12 May 1975 seizure by Khmer Rouge forces of Cambodia, which resulted in a confrontation with the United States at the close of the Vietnam War. 1 Registration history; 2 Capture and recovery; 3 Later career; 4 References.
West Coast Rail is the working title of a future train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that will commence operating the West Coast Partnership franchise in December 2019.
- 3Rolling stock
History[edit]
In November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that the InterCity West Coast franchise would be superseded by the West Coast Partnership (WCP), which would include operating High Speed 2 (HS2) services from 2026.[1]
The DfT required that bidders have experience in high speed trains and infrastructure, hence all partnered with an existing high speed operator.[2][3] In June 2017, the DfT announced three consortiums had been shortlisted to bid for the franchise:[4][5]
- FirstGroup (70%) / Trenitalia (30%)
- MTR Corporation (75%) / Guangshen Railway Company (25%)
- Stagecoach (50%) / SNCF (30%) / Virgin Group (20%)
In December 2018 Renfe Operadora joined the MTR led bid.[6] In April 2019, the Stagecoach led bid was disqualified after it proposed significant changes to the commercial terms.[7]
In August 2019 the DfT awarded the franchise to the First Trenitalia consortuim.[8][9]
The final brand name for the franchisee has yet to be announced.[10]
Services[edit]
West Coast Express Train
West Coast Rail will initially operate the same services as Virgin Trains on the West Coast Main Line. When High Speed 2 opens, it will also operate these services.
Over the course of the franchise several timetable changes are expected to be made.[11]
- a daily service will be introduced between London Euston and Walsall from December 2020, with an additional northbound service from 2022
- an additional service will be introduced to Shrewsbury from December 2022
- a direct service will be introduced between London Euston and Llandudno during the summer months from May 2021
- Subject to approval by the Office of Rail and Road, an additional hourly service will be introduced between London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street with a stop at Liverpool South Parkway from December 2022
- additional calls will be made at Motherwell from December 2020
- additional direct journeys at Milton Keynes Central to and from London Euston from December 2022
- extension of the daily service from London Euston to Wrexham General to Gobowen from December 2022
- earlier first trains and later last trains from London Euston to Llandudno Junction on weekends from December 2022
- earlier first trains and later last trains from London Euston to Chester on weekends by December 2022
- Later last trains from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly on weekdays by December 2020
Rolling stock[edit]
West Coast Rail will commence operations with the existing Super Voyager and Pendolino fleets. Both the Super Voyagers and the Pendolinos will be refurbished.[12]
Initial fleet[edit]
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Carriages | Number | Built | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | |||||||
| Class 221 Super Voyager | DEMU | 125 | 200 | 5 | 20 | 2001–2002 | Set numbers 221101-221118 & 221142-221143 To be replaced by the new bi-mode and EMU trains | |
| Class 390 Pendolino | EMU | 125 | 200 | 9 | 21 | 2001–2004 2009–2012 | Pendolino (from Italian Pendolo) refers to tilting trains. | |
| 11 | 35 | |||||||
Future fleet[edit]
All 20 Super Voyagers will be replaced by 13 Bi-Mode Multiple Unit and 10 Electric Multiple Units with the former used for services to Shrewsbury, Chester, Gobowen and North Wales and the latter used for services to Birmingham New Street, Blackpool North and Liverpool Lime Street.[12] It will also operate a new fleet on HS2 services from 2026.[13]
West Coast Express Route
| Class | Image | Type | Top Speed | Number | Cars | Routes Operated | Enter service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | |||||||
| TBA | Bi-Mode Multiple Unit | 125 | 200 | 13 | TBA | 2022 (scheduled) | ||
| TBA | Electric Multiple Unit | 10 | TBA | 2022 (scheduled) | ||||
West Coast Transportation Inc
References[edit]
- ^New West Coast rail franchise to run HS2 servicesBBC News 8 November 2016
- ^Wanted: Superfast mover to partner Virgin and Stagecoach for HS2The Times 4 March 2017
- ^RENFE poised to join Virgin's HS2 franchise bidRailway Gazette International 12 March 2017
- ^West Coast Partnership and South Eastern rail franchise bidders Department for Transport 22 June 2017
- ^Three shortlisted for West Coast Partnership franchiseRailway Gazette International 22 June 2017
- ^RENFE joins MTR’s West Coast Partnership bid teamRailway Gazette International 20 December 2018
- ^Stagecoach disqualified from three franchises in pension disputeRailway Gazette 10 April 2019
- ^FirstGroup and Trenitalia welcome West Coast Partnership Award FirstGroup 14 August 2019
- ^West Coast marks new partnership model for rail Department for Transport 14 August 2019
- ^West Coast Rail FAQ West Coast Rail 14 August 2019
- ^West Coast Partnership franchise improvements map Department for Transport 14 August 2019
- ^ abFirst Trenitalia awarded West Coast PartnershipRailway Gazette International 14 August 2019
- ^High Speed 2 rolling stock bids submittedRailway Gazette International 5 June 2019