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Written question asked by Laura Smith (Labour) on Monday, 3 September 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 September 2018. It was answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone (Conservative) on Tuesday, 11 September 2018 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

West Coast Partnership Rail Franchise

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the separation of the fleet maintenance and engineering functions relating to the West Coast Trains Limited franchise, whether (a) assets were fully scrutinised and valued in relation to that separation of functions and (b) the pension funds of employees affected by that separation of functions received protections under the terms of the Railways Act 1993.

Answer

The West Coast Main Line (WCML) Franchise was let by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising (OPRAF), a non-Departmental government body following a competition to Virgin Rail Group[1] (VRG). VRG, through a competitive process, procured both rolling stock and the separation of the fleet maintenance and engineering functions. West Coast Train Care, an Alstom company, took over responsibility for the Depots and Maintenance of all trains and the existing staff in the Depot. This was all included in VRG’s franchise bid for the WCML in 1997 thus the costs of this separation rested with the operator, while the taxpayer benefitted as a whole from the returns of the new 15 year franchise awarded.

At the time of the WCML franchise award in 1997, the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising (OPRAF) procurement rules and procedures were followed. OPRAF, will have scrutinised bidder responses under the parameters set out in the ITT, including the separation of the fleet maintenance and engineering functions.

The Franchisee (Virgin Rail Group) was responsible for compliance with the Railways Act 1993 in transferring employees from the operator to the maintainer.

[1] In its original entity – i.e. excluding Stagecoach

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
169785
Session
2017-19
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Pensions Repairs and maintenance West Coast Partnership rail franchise
Legislation
Railways Act 1993
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk