Boltar wrote:
Paul Corfield wrote:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press-cent...t.asp?prID=984

"Transport for London (TfL) has announced that MTR Laing and Go-Via have
been selected to submit a 'best and final offer' for the contract to run
London Overground services on the integrated North and East London
Railways, under the management of TfL."


Why can't TfL just run it themselves? Why does it have to be sub
contracted out?

Why should they run it themselves? Doing so would be unlikely to bring
many benefits. The concession approach is similar to the running of the
DLR, which has a phenomenal track record, and it allows a performance
incentive and penalty regime to be installed so that the concessionnaire
is continually motivated in the right direction. You'd be unlikely to
get that sort of drive if TfL ran it themselves. Meanwhile, TfL can
concentrate on other essential deliverables such as full integration
with other transport networks.

Pity there wasn't a bit more vision and willpower with the ELL. For a
start the obvious continuation to Finsbury Park then take the line up
the old northern heights branch via highgate high level to terminate at
east finchley and interchange with the northern line.

There's no point asking for many billions to build a mammoth project and
scaring off the Treasury when you are much more likely to get a smaller
amount to build a smaller project, show what good value for money it is
and so coax the cheque-writers in to give you more.

If, in the 1980s, someone had asked for £1.5bn to build a 40km light
railway network throughout the derelict docklands of East London, they
would have been laughed out of the Treasury - but by 2012, that will be
the investment in and scale of the DLR.

--
Dave Arquati
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London