VTEC defends business plan

摘要

The challenge from incumbent franchisees to previous track access applications from open-access operators has largely focused on revenue abstraction. However, in the case of the East Coast Main Line (pi), commitments in the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise agreement depend on a new high-frequency timetable based on the availability of additional paths combined with the introduction of the new 1EP fleet. As a result, VTEC is effectively bidding for paths in competition with two open-access operators. VTEC's proposed May 2020 timetable has a half-hourly London -Leeds service with a nominal timing of 2 h. One service is extended to Bradford in alternate hours. For London - Edinburgh, there is an hourly fast train calling at Newcastle, plus York in alternate hours. With the single stop, journey time will be 4 h, with 2 to 3 min added for the alternate-hour stop at York. A semi-fast service will leave King's Cross 30 min later calling at Peterborough, Doncaster, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Alnmouth will get a two-hourly service, while Dunbar and Morpeth will see 'occasional' stops.