Richard Branson loses rail contract

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph....st-rail-contract.html

What have they got against Richard Branson, first under New Labour he lost out on the Lottery deal to Camelot, even though he said he would run it on a non profit basis, and now under the Tory/Lib Dems this rail contract once again after making a cheaper offer?

[bazwillrun]

not sure but the "establishment" have never liked him, maybe its his no- conformist ideasand attitudes to what a business person should look and act like, he never wears suits etc.

He never had a chance of getting the lottery as a non profit excercise, too many suits in high places made sure of that, look at the money the camelot suits make from it, there wasnt a hope in hells chance they were going to let that one get away from them

[jake-the-peg]

He lost this one because his bid was too high.

Virgin reckon that the winning bid is too low and they'll crash and burn in disasterous fasion leaving the West Coast line without an operator.

The winning bid is predicting 10% growth in travellers each year but looks as if they have only a 5% margin so if they loose 5% of travellers they'll be losing money.

Of course they'll probably have enough padding that they won't go out of business before the next election

Whether you think that entered into consideration I'll leave it to you

[sandyRoe]

What will he do with all the trains?

[jake-the-peg]

Ebay

[sinderella]

its okay cos if they fudge up they will do what every other institution does and say "we cant do it now"
they will then get the book thrown at them.probably a cheque book
just like
all the banks and building societies, g4s , etc.

[Mattk]

He wanted to take on Concorde too a few years back when it got retired but BAe wouldn't let him so its not just the government that don't like him!

[kendra20]

Whats the betting fares will go through the roof now under new franchise.

[Tilly2]

Oh, no! Does that mean I won't be able to do my threetimes a year trip from MIlton Keynes to Stoke, travelling First Class? (to the chagrin of all my relatives)
Will I have to use another train line, if so which one?

[taranis]

Last month First Group were fined £380.000 for failing to meet standards with Scotrail, (they are fined every year for the same thing) so why would they be given a further franchise? I cannot understand why this government is so determined to reward failure.

[baza]

I dont like Branson as a person (never met him but know people that have) but he does know what he is talking about, first group always cut to the bone. At least he only leases the rolling stock.

[anotheoldgit]

jake-the-peg

/// He lost this one because his bid was too high. ///

?????????????????????????

Virgin's rival made an offer of £5.5bn to run the line for the next 13 years - £423m a year. Sir Richard tweeted that he had bid £750m less

[argorstran]

Branson is Murdoch's arch rival . The MP's have to do what Murdoch says or he'll publish the dirt about all 600-odd of them (...and they know it ...) .

[alan-r]

too low Jake the peg ??............

It follows a row over the true cost of the successful bid with Whitehall
originally insisting FirstGroup offered £5.5billion, however following an investigation by the Daily Mail it has emerged that the true figure is nearer the £7billion mark. Virgin offered £5.8billion.

Read more: http://www.dailymail....ne.html#ixzz23d37Ciqr

[mushroom25]

first group have promised more seats on the trains. this will be achieved by dispensing with on-train catering and replacing the counter area with seating. This will leave 300 staff with nothing to do and a lot of hungry passengers.

[excelsior-1]

the chief executive is an american - for god's sake!

(keeping obama happy?)

[Canary42]

Labour hated him because he was Thatcher's Darling - the present lot don't approve because he didn't go to Eton.

[excelsior-1]

that's the chief exec of first group . is what i was saying

[Bazile]

When I first heard the news this morning , the first thing that crossed my mind was that he lost the contract , because he isn't a Tory supporter - call me a cynic if you like .

I suspect the outcome would have been different if he/virgin group contributed to the tory party coffers .

But i'm sure someone will now tell me that it was purely a commercial decision - yeah right !

[emmie]

they provide food on trains, really.....

[mushroom25]

//they provide food on trains, really.....//

yep, really http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/trains/onboard/