Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)

Overview
Franchise(s)	South Central October 2000 - 20 September 2009 Gatwick Express 22 June 2008 - 20 September 2009
Main Region(s)	London, West Sussex, East Sussex,
Other Region(s)	Hampshire,Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Fleet size	298
Stations called at	213
Stations operated	161
Parent company	Govia (Go-Ahead Group / Keolis)
Reporting mark	SN
Other
Website	www.southernrailway.com

A sign at Brighton station showing the name change from South Central to Southern

Southern exterior signage at Norwood Junction station in Croydon

Southern is a train operating company in England, running to south London, Surrey, and Sussex from Victoria and London Bridge.

Southern Ltd. is owned by Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, which also owns the neighbouring Southeastern and London Midland. Officially named New Southern Railway Ltd, it was branded Southern on 30 May 2004 in a deliberate recall of the pre-nationalisation Southern Railway, with a green roundel logo with ‘Southern’ written in yellow in a green bar. From October 2000 until May 2004 services were operated under the brand SouthCentral. Prior to this, passenger trains run under the previous franchisee were branded Connex South Central.

On 22 June 2008, Southern assumed responsibility for the non-stop Gatwick Express between Victoria and Gatwick Airport, which from December 2008 was extended to Brighton during peak times.

The South Central franchise, currently operated by Southern, expires on 20th September 2009 when the new franchise term will begin. On Sunday 14 December 2008 Southern took over the running of services between Redhill and Tonbridge from Southeastern.

Routes

Details of each route, including maps and timetables, are on Southern’s website (see External links, below). Its routes off peak Monday to Saturday, with frequencies in trains per hour, include:

• from Victoria to:
  • Gatwick Express non-stop to Gatwick Airport - 4tph
  • Bognor Regis/Portsmouth Harbour or Southampton, via Horsham - 2tph
  • Dorking via Sutton and Epsom - 2tph, 1tph extended to Horsham
  • Sutton via Norbury - 2tph
  • Brighton - 2tph
  • West Croydon via Crystal Palace - 2tph
  • London Bridge via Denmark Hill - 2tph
  • Caterham via Norbury - 2tph
  • Littlehampton/Eastbourne or Ore via Gatwick and Hove - 2tph
  • Epsom via Mitcham Jct - 2tph
  • London Bridge via Crystal Palace - 2tph
  • East Grinstead - 2tph
  • Epsom via Norbury - 1tph
  • Epsom Downs via Norbury - 1tph

• from London Bridge to:
  • Victoria via Crystal Palace - 2tph
  • Beckenham Jct (via Birbeck) - 2tph
  • Caterham - 2tph
  • Smitham via Crystal Palace - 2tph
  • Uckfield - 1tph
  • Victoria via Denmark Hill - 2tph
  • Sutton via Sydenham and West Croydon - 2tph
  • Tattenham Corner - 2tph
  • West Croydon via Norbury - 2tph
  • Horsham via Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges - 2tph

• Off peak services not originating from London include:
  • Brighton to Seaford - 2tph
  • Brighton to Hove - 2tph
  • Brighton to Lewes 2tph, 1tph extended to Ore
  • Brighton to West Worthing - 2tph
  • Brighton to Ashford Intl - 1tph
  • Brighton to Southampton/Portsmouth Hbr - 1 each
  • East Croydon to Milton Keynes Central via Kensington (Olympia) and Watford Jct - 1tph
  • Portsmouth & Southsea to Littlehampton - 1tph
  • Littlehampton to Bognor Regis - 1tph
  • Barnham to Bognor Regis - 1tph
  • Charing Cross to Tonbridge via Redhill - 1tph, in peak periods to London Bridge, with a couple to and from London Victoria.

Performance

Punctuality figures released by the ORR for the second quarter of the 2008/9 financial year were PPM of 93.1% and MAA of 90.8%.

On-train announcements

Southern (toc) use on-train announcements on all services operated by Classes: 171, 377 and 455. These announcements are automated and are voiced by Julie Berry (who also announces on Heathrow Connect, National Express, Merseyrail and the Piccadilly line). There are several announcements usually displayed in this format:

• • 'Welcome aboard the Southern service to X, calling at Y, Y, Y and X.'
  • 'The next station is Y.' (then if necessary) 'Would customers please note that this train will divide en-route at Z. Coaches n to n will continue to X¹, Coaches n to n wil continue to X². Please ensure you're travelling in the correct part of the train' (then if necessary) 'Would customers please note that you can only alight from n, as this station has a short platform. Please ensure you're travelling in the correct part of the train.'

On train staff can also play and display certain other announcements including 'Would customers please note, a ticket check is about to take place. Please have your tickets ready for inspection', and 'A catering service will be provided at your seat during the journey'.

Rolling stock

Current fleet

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	On Order	Cars per set	Routes operated	Built	Notes
			mph	km/h
Class 73		electro-diesel locomotive	90	145	1	0	1	Thunderbird	1965-67
Class 171/7 Turbostar		diesel multiple unit	100	160	10	0	2	Oxted Line Marshlink	2003-2004 (2000)
Class 171/8 Turbostar		diesel multiple unit	100	160	6	0	4	Oxted Line Marshlink	2003-2004 (2000)
Class 319		electric multiple unit	100	160	20	0	4	Suburban services from London Victoria and London Bridge on London Metro	1987	Dual Voltage
Class 377/1 Electrostar		electric multiple unit	100	160	64	0	4	Entire Southern network	2002–04
Class 377/2 Electrostar		electric multiple unit	100	160	15	0	4	Entire Southern network. Usually operating between East Croydon and Milton Keynes	2002–2004	Dual Voltage
Class 377/3 Electrostar		electric multiple unit	100	160	28	0	3	Entire Southern network	2002–2004	Some units converted from Class 375/3
Class 377/4 Electrostar		electric multiple unit	100	160	75	0	4	Entire Southern network	2002–2004
Class 377/5 Electrostar		electric multiple unit	100	160	0	23	4	Entire Southern network	2008–2009	Dual Voltage
Class 442 (5Wes) Wessex		electric multiple unit	100	160	17	0	5	London Victoria - Gatwick Airport/Brighton (Gatwick Express)	1988-1989
Class 455/8		electric multiple unit	75	120	46	0	4	Suburban services from London Victoria and London Bridge on London Metro	1982
Class 456		electric multiple unit	75	120	24	0	2	Suburban services from London Victoria and London Bridge on London Metro	1989-90
Class 460 (8Gat) Juniper		electrical multiple units	100	160	8	0	8	London Victoria - Gatwick Airport (Gatwick Express)	2000 - 2001

Past fleet

Class	Image	Type	Built	Withdrawn	Notes
Class 205 (3H)		diesel multiple unit	1955-60	late 2004	See here for preservation details.
Class 207 (3D)		diesel multiple unit	1957-59	mid 2004	See here for preservation details.
Class 421 (4Cig)		electric multiple unit	1962-66	late 2005	Set 1753 and several loose vehicles have been preserved.
Class 423 (4Vep)		electric multiple unit	1967-71	late 2005	Set 3822 and several loose vehicles have been preserved.

As part of the Government's rolling stock plan Southern will receive 12 new 4-car dual voltage Class 377 units that are planned to be transferred to First Capital Connect to operate expanded services on the Thameslink route. To replace them Southern was to take a number of Class 465 units from Southeastern. However, the logistics of having these units serviced at Slade Green TMD but operating on Southern routes led to the decision to purchase 11 new 4-car Class 377 units to be delivered in 2009. Once the new Thameslink rolling stock is delivered, the 12 Class 377 units will be returned to Southern from FCC.

From 22 June 2008 Southern took over Gatwick Express services and rolling stock, including the Class 460 fleet and refurbished Class 442 units.

The Class 442 units are being repainted into Gatwick Express livery and some units are now in service.

Diagrams

Southern

Gatwick Express

Future

Main article: South Central franchise

In the March edition of the Londoner newspaper, the former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and TfL announced their desire to take over some of Southern's routes, including the South London line, and include them in the London Overground network when Southern's franchise runs out in 2009, but the Department for Transport appears to have rejected this plan. The May 2008 South Central Franchise Consultation document indicates that whilst TfL will have a role in shaping the franchise specification, the Government will continue to let and manage the franchise contract.

Criticism

In early 2006, Southern became the focus of attention from cyclists' groups as a result of the strict enforcement of their policy prohibiting the carriage of ordinary cycles during peak hours. Southern and sister company Southeastern were criticized in January 2007 for not wishing to introduce Oyster Pay As You Go on their London routes, stating that it was not financially viable. In 2007 Southern introduced Oyster on its Watford Junction to Clapham Junction route.

From 9 December 2007, following the withdrawal of Basingstoke to Brighton services by South West Trains, the Basingstoke-Brighton service was replaced by more frequent services from Southampton or Portsmouth Harbour to Brighton or London, which could involve changing trains during the journey or having to catch a much earlier train. Towards the end of December Southern had to hold an emergency meeting about the new timetable, as many services were running late or being cancelled. The number of complaints had increased since the new timetable started. Also in December 2007 Southern changed services down the Arun Valley Line to split into two portions at Horsham, the first running fast to Barnham before going onto Portsmouth or Southampton and the other part running stopping at stations to Bognr Regis. Southern have often been criticised for this from travellers in the Arun Valley for two major reasons. Firstly there has been an increase in journey times to and from london of about 10 minutes. Secondly there has been a number of occasions where, due to late running, the train has not split at horsham and the whole train has proceeded fast to Barnham leaving commuters stranded at Horsham.

In December 2008 significant timetable changes were brought in, including the extended Gatwick Express services. However, reliability and timekeeping on some of the new services have not been ideal, and several public meetings were held relating to this. On 22 January 2009, Southern responded to some of these criticisms.

There is also wider unhappiness due to the difference in speed and frequency of service between East Coastway services and those on the Brighton Main Line.

See also

• Rail transport in the United Kingdom
• Commuter rail in the United Kingdom

External links

• Southern website
• Information about Southern on National Rail Enquiries
• A Map of Southern's Routes