Employees bid to run Tyne and Wear Metro

Dec 10 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

METRO employees are bidding to run the Tyne and Wear system to prevent what has been labelled privatisation of the network.

The staff yesterday confirmed they have submitted the first part of their application to run the new Metro from April 2010.

Last July, Nexus received news of a £320m Government investment in the modernisation of the Metro. Nexus will continue to own and manage the network, but may appoint private contractors for some services, which has angered unions.

Bosses have now started the long process of assessing potential operators before handing out contracts in January 2010 for management of Metro train services and stations, maintenance of the trains and modernisation of 90 Metro cars.

At this stage, potential operators, including the in-house team, have been invited to submit “pre-qualification questionnaires” and on the basis of their submission they may be invited by Nexus to submit full applications.

Unite, the RMT and the TUC say introducing private firms into the Metro would have “the same disastrous effect” as privatisation of the national railway network. Metro director Mick Carbro said: “We are delighted to confirm that we have submitted a pre-qualification questionnaire to Nexus on behalf of Metro staff.

“This is an exciting opportunity to build on the successes of Metro to date and we have reflected this in our application to Nexus.

“We very much hope to qualify for the next stages of the selection process and to be invited to tender.

“It will be up to the Metro in-house team to demonstrate to Nexus and the Government that we can continue to operate as competitively in the public sector as any other potential private operators, and continue to provide the high level of customer service our passengers have become accustomed to.

“In the meantime, passengers can be confident that we will be working hard to improve services and the performance of our trains and stations, the marketing of our services and providing the best value for money possible.

“Whilst we are not complacent, Metro’s performance compares extremely well with other UK rail operators.

“Metro ran 95.6% of trains on time during 2007-8, a higher performance figure than all other UK franchise operators, and we have an excellent safety record with the lowest level of public subsidy.”

“Our message to the public and our passengers is that your Metro is already in safe hands.”

The new Metro contract will run for seven to nine years.