On Mon, 3 Nov 2008 10:39:33 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

On 3 Nov, 18:35, Paul Corfield wrote:
Surprised no one has picked this up but the DfT have issued a press
release about the key points of the South Central franchise
specification.

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fu...eID=383001&New...

Some interesting enhancements that pick up points TfL and London
Travelwatch made in their consultation responses. *As the wider
extension of Oyster PAYG to London TOCs is now further delayed to
September 2009 it seems that this franchise's start time, Oyster
extension and the transfer of some stations to LOROL will all coincide
nicely.

A little ominous that there is no mention whatsoever about ELLX Phase 2
and its relationship to this franchise or any indication as to when an
announcement might emerge. *I think we're very nearly out of time in
terms of a decision being timely enough for the work to be carried out
in order to support Thameslink works.

It's all gone terribly quiet on ELLX Phase 2. No money, it would
appear, although TfL remains keen. TfL is rewriting its whole business
plan at the moment, anyway.

What's irritating is that it appears to have strong support, it's only
£100m and it's ready to go. If anything fitted in with Uncle Alastair's
"let's spend on investment" then this is it even if it is yet more money
for London. Still it's hardly TfL's fault if it's got itself
sufficiently organised to have schemes that can proceed quickly.

One other interesting point which isn't in the release (but it is in
the stakeholder consultation published today) is that bidders are
being asked to explain how they would provide trains on Boxing Day --
not only to Gatwick Airport as in the past but also as far as Brighton
and also on a number of (unspecified) suburban lines in south London.

I did see that in the press release and I think it's an encouraging
development.
--
Paul C