Intercity East Coast perhaps??

[class47]

So what exactly is happening at National Express?

A number of 'NatEx' friendly stories have been appearing in the media recently.

Three weeks ago it was rumoured that NatEx and Stagecoach might merge.

The story was strenuously denied by Stagecoach.

No matter - NatEx shares reacted positively to the 'news'.

And only this weekend the Sunday Times claimed that NatEx's troubled East Coast franchise would move to a management contract.

A story given short shrift by the DfT, who quickly reaffirmed that rail contracts won't be renegotiated.

Just what is happening

one thing is certain

Buy paint shares NOW!

Excellent quote from the Railway Eye

"Top of the bill at today's Railway Forum National Conference was beleaguered National Express Chief Executive Richard Bowker.

There was slack-jawed astonishment around the hall as Bowker not only proceeded to ignore his company's dire financial plight completely but then droned on for ages and ages about improving National Express's green credentials.

As watchers mouthed from the back of the room, "Your company's going bust, Richard", he explained the very pertinent news that National Express was the first large bus operator to switch all its depots to green tariff energy and explained how he'd always been a huge enthusiast for high-speed rail, back to his SRA days (when most people thought he kicked the Atkins report on high-speed rail into the long grass). "

[ashurstdave]

Interesting story - I attened Passenger Focus Conference in LOndon recently when Richard Bowker did not mention the above; however gave a presentation on the virtues of Coach Travel.

[Andy]

Excellent, a coach all the way to london from Edinburgh. i can see it now.

Anyone was to travel to London by coach......

nope!

Its just something that they are trying to get out of, because they know they can't afford it.

[class47]

Best laugh is that they are still spending money on stuff like barriers and new uniforms, if money is that tight, then surely cutbacks in these departments
would be first.

Nat ex are to start charging for seat reservations, and also are currently
boasting long distance fares from £9.00

Good and bad publicity at the same time

It is also reported in some papers, that they have said, with regard to
barriers on stations, WE OWN them, so we can do what we like.

I may be wrong but I don't think a train operator owns a station??

[ashurstdave]

Stations are "managed" by the lead operator, regardless of who operates the trains. I guess, NatX must manage the majority of the ECML stations. In franchise agreements, stations where there is a lead operator, has to be "impartial" when it comes to trading and passengers should still be offered the choice of services where appropriate. The lead Station Management are obliged also to display information boards regarding fares, engineering work, timetables etc... for every operator serving that station. Watchdog groups keep an eye on the activities and can report back to the Rail Regulator if
franchise agreements are not maintained. ( For example, at Southampton Central - the lead operator is South West Trains, thus they manage the station, but the other operators which serve - First Great Western, Go-Ahead Southern Trains and Arriva Cross-Country all must have their appropriate material displayed and booking clerks, all employed by SWT, should also offer travel on those other companies, should the journey undertaken be appropriate).

[class47]

But by putting barriers at York they are going against all other operators wishes.

[class47]

Bus and train group National Express is to sell its London bus business, Travel London, to a subsidiary of NS Dutch Railways.

[ashurstdave]

In my opinion, National Express should pull out of the train business all together and revert to long distant coach travel, which it seems to be more successful with.