Yesterday's Birmingham Post had an informative (if slightly alarmist article) by Jonathan Walker on the newly opened DfT consultation on the 2012 West Coast Franchise.
The headline was 'New franchise could see fewer trains to London' but, as Jonathan highlights in his article, the DfT is simply asking for views on whether 3 trains an hour for most of the day is the right level of service between Birmingham New Street and London Euston.
Indeed, given that the consultation period doesn't end until April and that the franchise is set to be let by the end of 2011, one would be very surprised if anything other than the current timetable is used by the winning franchisee - especially as options are severelty constrained by both the DfT's micromanagement of the rolling stock provision and Network Rail's control over the route capacity...
Interested rail users have until 21 April 2011 to respond: either directly to the DfT (intercitywestcoast@dft.gsi.gov.uk) with a copy to Passenger Focus (info@passengerfocus.org.uk), or via the relevant local authority...
Don't forget that this consultation is being carried out at the same time as Network Rail's two Route Utilisation Strategies:
West Coast Main Line - closing date 11th March 2011 (comments to: westcoastmainlinerus@networkrail.co.uk)
West Midlands and Chilterns - closing date 4 February 2011 (comments to westmidlandsandchilternsrus@networkrail.co.uk)
and the ongoing planning for HS2!
One would hope that there is some joined up thinking going on...
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