The train operator running one of the busiest networks in the country was warned yesterday that it

The train operator running one of the busiest networks in the country was warned yesterday that it was in danger of losing its franchise unless there was a “radical improvement in service quality”.
The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority said Connex South Central needed to show “early achievement of higher performance standards” in terms of cleanliness and provision of information. “Proposals in these areas will need to be far more ambitious than the ideas outlined so far,” the authority told the company.The SSRA yesterday included Connex in the shortlist of two to operate the South Central licence – which covers commuter routes from London to the south coast – but warned the company that it needed to raise its game.The SSRA allowed an application from GoVia, the present franchisee of Thameslink, to progress to the next round of negotiations for the South Central licence, but rejected proposals by Stagecoach.An application to run the network’s flagship east-coast main line between London and Scotland from Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin train company was also allowed to go forward. Virgin Rail Group, in conjunction with Stagecoach, is bidding in opposition to the incumbent Great North Eastern Railway, owned by the transport giant Sea Containers. But Sir Richard was warned that the authority would need to be convinced that the two major London to Scotland franchises should be in the hands of a single owner.

Virgin and Stagecoach currently run the west-coast main line between the capital and Glasgow.The SSRA said the decision over the east-coast licence would take longer because the proposals are associated with an extensive upgrade of the route.It was decided that the present incumbents of the Chiltern franchise, M40 Trains, will compete with the Go-Ahead company, which operates Thames Trains. Negotiations for both South Central and Chiltern are expected to be completed in late spring and to become effective in the second half of this year.Meanwhile, the Central Rail Users Consultative Committee said yesterday that train companies should reduce average fares by 1 per cent every year over the life of their franchises. Such a reduction over 10 years would cost the Government £110m. Its comments came as South West Trains, which runs services into Waterloo, London, faces two 24-hour strikes on 23 and 31 March in a dispute over the sacking of Sarah Friday, a train driver. Ms Friday says she was dismissed because of her union activity.. Stephen Winyard

Stephen Winyard
Chief ExecutiveStobo CastleThe health farm industry has moved from the old regime, where guests were automatically put on a three-day diet These days health farms are more like pleasure palaces. At Stobo we have a chef’s demonstration where guests can watch various meals being prepared.

We try to educate people into a healthier lifestyle so they can continue the good work when they leave But the misconceptions continue. The other week there was a repeat of the old comedy Terry and June, where they go to a health farm and fight over a single grape. The staff were in Gestapo-type uniforms and the show must have set the industry back 10 years.Our guest expectations increase year by year so we have to have a constant programme of refurbishment. We are always looking at new treatments and new equipment because the moment you’ve fitted something it becomes out of date You can’t stand still in this business. I have a lot of admiration for the Perdew family because they’ve shaken up the market by investing in Forest Mere. We are no longer seen as elitist, but places that are affordable for everyone. Steve Joynes JnrMarketing ManagerHoarcross HallWe were frowned on for being the first to put a champagne bar in a health resort.