This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Minister timetables train improvements
29/04/2002
The Transport Minister today outlined to the rail
industry in Scotland how the Executive is driving ahead
with the replacing of the ScotRail franchise.
Wendy Alexander, speaking at the Network Planning For
Rail conference in Glasgow, sounded the starting gun for
the process to deliver a bigger, better and safer railway
for Scotland.
Top of the Scottish Executive's shopping list will be
increasing frequency in urban areas, better train, bus and
parking facilities at railway stations and reliability of
timetabling.
The Minister envisages a "vigorous" competition to run
the 15 year franchise which will begin on 1 April 2004.
Bids from rail companies she said, should reflect the need
for more and better rail services across Scotland.
Ms Alexander told delegates,
"The Transport Delivery Report sets out the top 10
transport projects with the top priority being to get
people in and out of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen
quicker and more effectively. The future of the ScotRail
franchise will be vital to delivering this plan.
"We will publish the plans for the future of the
franchise. The Scottish Parliament will have the chance to
discuss them and the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) will be
instructed to start drawing up tender documents for issue
in the autumn.
"To help lead the process I have invited Dr Malcolm
Reed, Director General Strathclyde Passenger Transport
Executive (SPTE) to take a leading role with the Executive
and SPTE in working with the SRA to deliver the franchise
reletting. A joint team will be drawn from the Scottish
Executive, SPTE and the SRA and based in Scotland."
The Minister outlined the key stages in the franchise
replacement process:
- Scottish Executive directions and guidance issued to
SRA in summer 2002.
- SRA inviting initial bids in Autumn 2002.
- Two bidders invited to submit best and final offers by
Autumn 2003.
- Negotiate new franchise with preferred bidder Winter
2003/04.
- Franchise commences 1 April 2004.
Ms Alexander continued,
"We want to do better than deliver the current services.
Bidders will be invited to suggest creative and innovative
ways to provide new services. This option of providing
enhancements to the basic franchise will enable fully
costed, affordable improvements to be added during the
lifetime of the franchise.
"This new approach is the most cost effective way of
delivering maximum benefit to travellers in urban and rural
Scotland.
"We are committed to securing the best franchise yet -
higher quality spec on passenger service, reliability and
infrastructure improvements - ensuring Scottish rail
services fit with our needs and Scotland's transport
policies.
"The Scottish Executive is in the driving seat, pushing
ahead with transport improvements and ensuring the
successful operator delivers a bigger, better and safer
railway for Scotland."
The Executive's directions and guidance will set out the
strategic priorities for a new franchise and will be
published. They will form the basis of the SRA's detailed
instructions to bidders.