THE next Intercity West Coast passenger franchise, due to start in April 2012, will only last for about 13 years until the new north-south high speed line begins operation, the transport secretary has revealed.
At a ‘Business Debate’ in Birmingham on plans for the new line, High Speed Two, Philip Hammond was asked about future capacity problems on the West Coast Main Line. Martin Dyer, chairman of the West Midlands Business Transport Group, pointed out that all forecasts suggest the WCML will run out of capacity by 2020, but current plans were that the first stage of HS2 to relieve the WCML would not open until 2025.
The Transport Secretary admitted that the period between 2020 and 2025 was “going to be a challenge.”
But he said that the Invitation To Tender to bidders for the next West Coast franchise — the present one is currently operated by Virgin — “will invite potential operators to address how to deal with capacity pressures at the tail end.
“The franchise will expire when HS2 opens,” Mr Hammond added.
He also revealed that property owners affected by HS2 could receive enhanced compensation, and that the plans include a spur to Heathrow airport and a tunnel eastwards from Old Oak Common to connect with HS1.
The Government has recently undertaken a consultation exercise on future franchise options, including extending the normal period to around 20 years.
Virgin earlier proposed the present West Coast franchise could be extended to 2014, in which case it would take responsibility for adding two additional standard class carriages to every Pendolinio train, but this was rejected by Transport Ministers.
Present government plans will see only 32 of the 52-strong fleet lengthened, as well as the delivery of four completely new 11-car trains, which will only be brought into use after the new franchise is let in 2012.