New Overground Concession Awarded to Arriva

Would that not be countered by the fact that points are being deducted or not awarded for things like this (by points I'm obviously talking figuratively. Money is really what I mean )



www.londonreconnections.com/2016/orange-futures-a-brief-look-at-the-new-overground-concession/

Would you allow your company's literature to go out featuring hoards of miserable looking employees on it? Of course you wouldn't, and neither would anybody else I'd guess.

The picture of the train does indeed show a mobility challenged passenger problem but then again it's being realistic in as much as there are places such as this on the Overground - a good many of them most likely - where this is encountered. The route maps are there to give best information for those planning travel with level access.

I know from previous posts that the thought of Arriva fills you with ire for some reason but they've been involved with, and have delivered, the highly successful LO franchise since it started and deserve credit for it. I see no need to run for the hills in panic just yet. 

Just had a look at the new Overground concession agreement. A few little snippets.

First class 710 EMU is supposed to be available for passenger service 11 Dec 2017. No line / route is specified.


The specified contract options for extra services in the Concession are

1. Extra 2 tph all day on the North London Line (Stratford to Clapham Junction via Willesden). This is dependent on 710s being deployed to the Watford Line to release 378s.
2. Extra 2 tph all day on the ELL from Dalston to Crystal Palace. This is dependent on 710s being deployed to the Watford Line to release 378s.
3. Extra 2 tph on the ELL from Dalston to Clapham Junction. This would require 4 extra *5 car* class 710s being bought and deployed on NLL services to release 378s to the ELL.
4. Extra 2 tph on West Anglia - peaks Seven Sisters to Enfield Town, off peak Liv St - Enfield Town. This would require 2 more Class 710s being procured.
5. Extra 1 tph on Euston - Watford line services. This would require 2 more Class 710s being procured.
6. Extra 1 tph on the GOBLIN (so up to 5 tph). This would require 1 more Class 710 being procured.
7. Extended services from Barking to Barking Riverside and operation of Barking Riverside station. This would require 2 more Class 710s being procured.
8. Operation of 2 tph from Stratford to Meridian Water (Angel Road) and taking on the operation of Meridian Water, Northumberland Park and Lea Bridge Stations. This would require 2 more Class 710s being procured.

Options 1 and 2 appear to be mutually exclusive as they both rely on the same number of trains being release from Eus - Watford services. Other than for option 3 all extra Class 710 EMUs would be 4 car units.


The dates have been redacted in the document (no surprise there) and several of the options are dependent on Rail for London (TfL) procuring the supply of additional class 710 trains. To be fair most of the above are not new and have been discussed many times before. However it is always interesting to see things confirmed in print. Obviously it is worth saying that these are all options and none / some / all of them may be taken up depending on circumstances.

I've tried to find that contract but have been unsuccessful. I have seen a couple of references to the points you make above. Clearly the rolling stock contract has to run slightly ahead of the obligations placed on the train operator to have trains in service given the split of responsibilities between Rail for London, Bombardier and Arriva Rail London.