Govia Thameslink Railway

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Govia Thameslink Railway
GoviaThameslinkRailway.png
700019 Shepreth Branch Junc 210619.jpg
A Thameslink Class 700 at Shepreth Branch Junction, south of Cambridge in 2019
Overview
Franchise(s)
Main region(s)
  • South East England
  • Greater London
  • East Anglia
Stations operated238
Parent company
Reporting mark GN, GX, SN, TL
Other
Website gtrailway.com

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is a train operating company that operates the TSGN rail franchise in England. Within the franchise, GTR runs trains under the sub-brands Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express. GTR is a subsidiary of Govia, which is itself a joint venture between the British Go-Ahead Group (65%) and French company Keolis (35%).

Contents

The franchise was awarded, after repeated delays, to Govia Thameslink Railway on 23 May 2014. On 14 September 2014, GTR took over operations for the prior franchisee First Capital Connect; during July 2015, both Southern and Gatwick Express operations were integrated into GTR. This change made it the largest rail franchise in terms of passengers, staff and fleet in the UK. The franchise has an unusual structure involving a management contract that sees all fare revenues going straight to the Department for Transport (DfT), which in turn pays GTR fixed amounts that add up to £8.9 billion across its first seven years of operation.

GTR introduced several fleets of new trains, including the Class 387, Class 700, and Class 717. In terms of infrastructure, Govia planned to invest £50 million into the 239 stations it manages to improve accessibility, replace information systems, and increase staffing hours, alongside general redevelopment work. Various measures at increasing capacity and improving service were also planned, such as the doubling of overnight Thameslink services, half-hourly King's Lynn to London services, and extending the Oyster card network.

As early as June 2016, GTR was facing public criticism from officials over its performance, including calls from the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan for it to be stripped of the franchise. In May 2018, the company introduced a new timetable which included the first regular services through the Canal Tunnels and to other new destinations previously not served by Thameslink; however, an interim timetable that ran fewer trains had to be adopted due to frequent service issues. In response to the significant decline of passenger travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic, GTR considerably curtailed its services by mid-2020. GTR is one of several train operators that are experiencing severe disruption of services due to the 2022–2023 United Kingdom railway strikes.

History

Background

During 2006, the Thameslink and Great Northern services were merged into a single franchise due to the upcoming Thameslink Programme. In 2012, the British government announced that services of First Capital Connect, Southern (with Gatwick Express) and some Southeastern routes would be merged into a single Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise (TSGN). [2] The Invitation to Tender was to have been issued in October 2012, with the successful bidder announced during Spring 2013 and TSGN originally due to start in September 2013. However, following the collapse of the InterCity West Coast re-franchising process, it was decided to enact a temporary freeze on all franchising competitions until January 2013. [3]

In January 2013, the government announced that it would extend the existing contract through to March 2014, and that it intended to negotiate with FirstGroup to operate the franchise under a management contract for up to two years. [4] In March 2013, the Secretary of State for Transport announced that the franchise would be extended again to run up to 13 September 2014, and that the future franchise would be a management-style contract due to the level of investment and change on the route. [5] During September 2013, a revised invitation to tender was issued. [6] On 23 May 2014, it was announced that Govia Thameslink Railway had been awarded the franchise. [7] [8] [9]

On 14 September 2014, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) took over services from First Capital Connect; at the commencement of operations, it served 122 stations and operated a fleet of 226 trains. [10] The separate Thameslink and Great Northern brands were maintained upon the GTR takeover. During December 2014, full control was taken of the Sevenoaks Thameslink service, previously operated jointly with Southeastern. During July 2015, both Southern and Gatwick Express became a part of GTR, making it the largest rail franchise in terms of passengers, staff and fleet in the UK. [11] [12]

The franchise has an unusual structure: it is a management contract where fare income does not go to GTR. Under their original contract, the Department for Transport pays GTR £8.9 billion over the first seven-year period and receives all revenue. [13] Consequently, the company carries less revenue risk. This form of franchise was chosen because of long-term engineering works anticipated around London, which would be a significant challenge to organise within the normal form of franchise. [14] [15]

Changes and disruptions

During December 2015, GTR announced that the majority of its ticket prices would be frozen, and that the average fare rise for the coming year would be only 0.8%. [16]

In June 2016, amongst criticism of the performance of its services, Go-Ahead warned of lower than anticipated profits on the franchises, leading to 18% drop in the Go-Ahead share price. Passengers had previously rated its Thameslink service as the worst in the country. Only 20% of Southern trains arrived on time in the year from April 2015 to March 2016, and there was an ongoing industrial dispute over driver-only operated trains. [17] [18] [19] On 12 July 2016, after 15% of Southern services were cancelled for a period of weeks to improve service reliability, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan called for GTR to be stripped of the franchise. [20] On 15 July 2016, citing the issues, Rail Minister Claire Perry resigned from her position. [21]

In response to the significant decline of passenger travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic, GTR considerably curtailed its services by mid-2020. [22] [23] Between 30 March 2020 and 3 April 2022, Gatwick Express services were suspended. [24] [25]

In March 2022, following changes made due to COVID-19, the DfT gave GTR a direct-award contract expiring on 1 April 2028. [1]

GTR is one of several train operators impacted by the 2022–2023 United Kingdom railway strikes, which are the first national rail strikes in the UK for three decades. [26] Its workers are amongst those who have voted in favour of taking industrial action due to a dispute over pay and working conditions. [27] GTR is only capable of operating a very minimal timetable on any of the planned dates for the strikes due to the number of staff involved. [28] [29]

Govia Thameslink Railway has operated Thameslink and Great Northern services since 14 September 2014. Thameslink is a 68-station main-line route running 225 km (140 miles) north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport, with a suburban loop serving Sutton, Mitcham and Wimbledon and on weekdays a suburban line via Catford and Bromley South to Sevenoaks. Great Northern is the name of the suburban rail services run on the southern end of Britain's East Coast Main Line and associated branches. Services operate to or from London King's Cross and Moorgate. Destinations include Hertford North, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Peterborough, Cambridge and King's Lynn.

In May 2018, the company introduced a new timetable which included the first regular services through the Canal Tunnels and to other new destinations previously not served by Thameslink. However, due to frequent disruption of services on the whole network, Govia decided to create a new interim timetable with a reduced number of trains; this came into operation in July 2018. [30]

Off-peak

The Monday–Friday off-peak service pattern, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph), includes:

Thameslink Monday–Friday off-peak service pattern
RoutetphCalling at
Bedford to Brighton [31] [32] 2
Bedford to Three Bridges via Redhill [31] [33] 2
  • Flitwick
  • Harlington
  • Leagrave
  • Luton
  • Luton Airport Parkway
  • Harpenden
  • St Albans City
  • London St Pancras International
  • Farringdon
  • City Thameslink
  • London Blackfriars
  • London Bridge
  • Norwood Junction
  • East Croydon
  • South Croydon
  • Purley
  • Redhill
  • Earlswood
  • Salfords
  • Horley
  • Gatwick Airport
  • In the evening, this service only runs between Luton and Three Bridges
Peterborough to Horsham via Redhill [34] [35] 2
Cambridge to Brighton [34] [32] 2
London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks via Catford and Otford [36] 2
Luton to Rainham via Greenwich [31] [37] 2
  • In the evening, this service only runs between Kentish Town and Rainham
St Albans City to Sutton via Wimbledon (loop) [31] [38] 2
  • Services then continue to/from St Albans City via Mitcham Junction (see below)
St Albans City to Sutton via Mitcham Junction (loop) [31] [38] 2
  • Radlett
  • Elstree & Borehamwood
  • Mill Hill Broadway
  • Hendon
  • Brent Cross West
  • Cricklewood
  • West Hampstead Thameslink
  • Kentish Town
  • London St Pancras International
  • Farringdon
  • City Thameslink
  • London Blackfriars
  • Elephant & Castle
  • Loughborough Junction
  • Herne Hill
  • Tulse Hill
  • Streatham
  • Mitcham Eastfields
  • Mitcham Junction
  • Hackbridge
  • Carshalton
  • Services then continue to/from St Albans City via Wimbledon (see above)

    Peak hours

    During peak hours, the two trains per hour London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks service (from the table above) is extended through the 'core tunnel' to/from Welwyn Garden City (though a few services originate at Finsbury Park), with extra calls at City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International, Finsbury Park, New Southgate, Oakleigh Park, New Barnet, Potters Bar and Hatfield. [36] [39]

    As well as these services, during peak hours, several trains in each direction (approximately two trains per hour) run to/from Orpington (originating/terminating at either London Blackfriars, Luton, West Hampstead Thameslink or Kentish Town), all calling at Petts Wood in lieu of stations from St Mary Cray to Bat & Ball. [36]

    In addition, there are six trains per day in each direction that operate to/from East Grinstead (originating/terminating at either Bedford, West Hampstead Thameslink, St Pancras International or London Bridge), which, after calling at South Croydon, call at Sanderstead, Riddlesdown, Upper Warlingham, Woldingham, Oxted, Hurst Green, Lingfield and Dormans. [40]

    Great Northern service pattern

    Since the introduction of regular services through the Canal Tunnels during May 2018, many GTR services on the East Coast Main Line were rebranded from Great Northern to Thameslink. Most of these services have been extended through central London and incorporated into the Thameslink network (as per above), although as of October 2019 some services are yet to be extended. The only services to retain the Great Northern brand are those on the Northern City Line, the stopping services to/from Cambridge and Letchworth Garden City and the express services to/from Cambridge, Ely and King's Lynn, as well as Peterborough at peak times. [41] The Great Northern off-peak service pattern, as of May 2023, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph), consists of the following: [42] [43]

    RoutetphCalling at
    London King's Cross to Ely 1
    London King's Cross to King's Lynn 1
    London King's Cross to Letchworth Garden City 1 Finsbury Park, Alexandra Palace, Potters Bar, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn North, Knebworth, Stevenage, Hitchin
    London King's Cross to Cambridge1Finsbury Park, Alexandra Palace, Potters Bar, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn North, Knebworth, Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock, Royston, Meldreth, Shepreth, Foxton
    Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City2
    Moorgate to Stevenage via Hertford North 2

    Southern and Gatwick Express services

    Southern Class 377 at Watford Junction Watford Junction railway station MMB 06 377212.jpg
    Southern Class 377 at Watford Junction

    The Southern and Gatwick Express brands joined Govia Thameslink Railway on 26 July 2015. Southern routes run from London Victoria and London Bridge through the South London suburbs of Battersea, Norbury, Peckham, Sydenham, Crystal Palace, Norwood, Croydon, Streatham, Purley and Sutton to towns surrounding London including Caterham, Epsom and Tadworth. Further afield, Southern also serve Redhill, Tonbridge, Uckfield, East Grinstead, Gatwick Airport, Brighton, Ashford (Kent), Worthing, Hastings, Portsmouth, Eastbourne, Horsham, Southampton, Littlehampton and Bognor Regis. Additionally, Southern run West London route services from Milton Keynes to South Croydon via Watford and Clapham Junction. Since 2008, Southern has operated the Gatwick Express service from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport and Brighton. [44] [45]

    Gatwick Express

    Gatwick Express operates an express commuter and airport transfer service between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath and Brighton. Between 6:00 am and 9:00 am on weekdays, northbound services call additionally at Preston Park, Hassocks and Burgess Hill. Services stop additionally at the same stations in the southbound direction between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm. [46]

    As of May 2023, the off-peak Monday-Saturday, with frequencies in 'trains per hour' (tph), consists of: [46]

    RoutetphCalling at
    London VictoriaBrighton 2 Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath [47]

    On Sundays, Gatwick Express operates a half-hourly shuttle service between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport only. [46]

    Southern

    Details of each route, including maps and timetables, are on Southern's website (see External links below). As of December 2023, the off-peak Monday-Saturday service pattern, with frequencies in 'trains per hour' (tph), consists of [48]

    Brighton Mainline
    RoutetphCalling at
    London VictoriaLittlehampton 2
    London Victoria – Eastbourne 1
    London Victoria – Ore 1
    Arun Valley
    RoutetphCalling at
    London VictoriaSouthampton Central via Crawley1
    London Victoria – Portsmouth & Southsea via Crawley1
    • Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Crawley, Horsham, Barnham, Chichester, Havant, Fratton
    London Victoria – Bognor Regis via Crawley2
    Coastway East
    RoutetphCalling at
    BrightonSeaford 2
    • Services alternate between serving Southease and Newhaven Harbour
    Brighton – Eastbourne 1
    Brighton – Ore 1
    Eastbourne – Ashford International 1
    Coastway West
    RoutetphCalling at
    BrightonHove 2Shuttle service
    Brighton – Southampton Central 1
    Brighton – Portsmouth Harbour 1
    Littlehampton – Portsmouth & Southsea1
    Littlehampton – Bognor Regis 1
    • Ford, Barnham
    Barnham – Bognor Regis1Shuttle service
    Oxted
    RoutetphCalling at
    London VictoriaEast Grinstead 1
    London BridgeUckfield 1
    Redhill
    RoutetphCalling at
    London VictoriaReigate 2
    Redhill – Tonbridge 1
    West London
    RoutetphCalling at
    Watford JunctionEast Croydon 1
    Mole Valley line
    RoutetphCalling at
    London VictoriaDorking via Carshalton1
    London Victoria – Horsham via Carshalton1
    London Victoria – Epsom Downs via Norbury2
    London Bridge – Epsom2
    • Norwood Junction, West Croydon, Waddon, Wallington, Carshalton Beeches, Sutton, Cheam, Ewell East
    Caterham and Tattenham Corner lines
    RoutetphCalling at
    London Bridge – Caterham 2
    • This route splits/merges at Purley with the route to Tattenham Corner, see below.
    London Bridge – Tattenham Corner 2
    • This route splits/merges at Purley with the route to Caterham, see above.
    London via Crystal Palace and/or Tulse Hill
    RoutetphCalling at
    London VictoriaWest Croydon via Crystal Palace2
    London Victoria – London Bridge via Crystal Palace2
    London Bridge – East Croydon via Tulse Hill2
    London Bridge – Beckenham Junction via Tulse Hill and Crystal Palace2
    • South Bermondsey, Queens Road Peckham, Peckham Rye, East Dulwich, North Dulwich, Tulse Hill, West Norwood, Gipsy Hill, Crystal Palace, Birkbeck

    Franchise commitments

    An example of widescale upgrade works at Harpenden station including the extension of platforms for 12 carriage trains, a new footbridge with lifts, new waiting rooms, brighter lighting, new ticket gates and automatic passenger information screens Harpenden Train Station.JPG
    An example of widescale upgrade works at Harpenden station including the extension of platforms for 12 carriage trains, a new footbridge with lifts, new waiting rooms, brighter lighting, new ticket gates and automatic passenger information screens

    This franchise is different from many other franchises let since the start of railway privatisation in 1996. Under the agreed terms of the franchise, the operator, in this case Govia, gives all revenue to the government, rather than paying set premiums. The Department for Transport will pay Govia, totalling around £8.9 billion over the franchise period of seven years, from the expected revenues of £12.4 billion. From these payments, Govia expects to generate a 3% profit, and the risks on operating costs will be Govia's, while the DfT will profit or lose from fluctuations in revenue. [49]

    Prior to the start of the franchise, Govia stated its plans to invest £50 million in all 239 stations that it would manage. The specifics of these plans include: [50]

    Govia also stated its intention to bring about the following: [51]

    Rolling stock

    In order to replace the Class 319 trains and to operate the expanded Thameslink network, a fleet of 115 eight- and twelve-car Class 700 trains had been procured during the franchise term of First Capital Connect. These entered service between 2016 and 2019.

    As a consequence of the delayed procurement of the Class 700 trains, 29 Class 387 trains had also been ordered for the Thameslink route to release the Class 319 trains to newly electrified routes. Deliveries were completed during 2014 and the trains entered service later that year. [6] [56] It was originally planned that once the Class 700s began entering service, the Class 387s would be transferred to Great Western Railway for use on routes in the Thames Valley. [57] However, a change of plans saw GWR order an entirely new fleet of Class 387s, so the Thameslink units were instead cascaded to the Great Northern route following delivery of the Class 700s. [58] [59]

    In addition to these, GTR ordered 25 new six-car trains to replace 40-year-old Class 313 units, [49] which were being run on the Great Northern suburban services out of Moorgate. During December 2015, Siemens was selected to provide these as a follow-on to the Class 700 order. [60] [61] They were designated as the Class 717 in June 2016, and were first introduced in September 2018. [62] [63]

    In May 2023 the Southern Class 313 units were withdrawn from service. [64]

    Current fleet

    FamilyClassImageTypeTop speedNumberCarriagesRoutes operatedBuilt
    mphkm/h
    Southern
    Bombardier Turbostar

    171

    British Rail Class 171 171722.jpg DMU 100161112 Oxted line
    Marshlink line
    20032004
    64
    Southern Class 171-2-7.png

    Southern Class 171-4-8.png

    Bombardier Electrostar

    377

    British Rail Class 377 377164.jpg EMU 283Entire Southern network apart from sections between Hurst Green and Uckfield & between Ore and Ashford International 20012005
    1524
    34520122014
    Southern Class 377-3..png Southern Class 377-1-4.png
    Southern Class 377-7.png
    387 387204 Gatwick Airport.jpg EMU 11017744 [65] Entire Southern network apart from sections between Hurst Green and Uckfield & between Ore and Ashford International 20162017
    Gatwick Express Class 387-2.png
    Gatwick Express
    Bombardier Electrostar

    387

    Gatwick Express 387210 , Clapham Junction 24.3.18.jpg EMU 110177184Gatwick Express services between London Victoria & Brighton 20152016
    Gatwick Express Class 387-2.png
    Great Northern
    Bombardier Electrostar 387 387115 Shepreth Branch Junc 210619.jpg Thatcham - c2c 387306 approaching from Newbury.JPG EMU 11017739 [65] 4Great Northern express services between London King's Cross & Ely / King's Lynn / Peterborough and Great Northern semi-fast services between London King's Cross & Letchworth Garden City / Cambridge 20142017
    Great Northern Class 387-1.png GWR Class 387-1.png Gatwick Express Class 387-2.png C2c Class 387-3.png
    Siemens Desiro

    717 Desiro City [63]

    717009 OKL.jpg 85137256 Northern City Line services between Moorgate & Welwyn Garden City / Stevenage via Hertford North 2018
    Great Northern Class 717.png
    Thameslink
    Siemens Desiro 700 Desiro City 700044 London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks 9Y51.jpg
    700155 Trainbow south of Balcombe.jpg
    EMU 100161608All Thameslink services20152018
    5512
    Thameslink Class 700-0.png
    Thameslink Class 700-1.png

    Past fleet

    Former units operated by Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern include:

    ClassImageTypeTop speedCarriagesNumberBuiltRoutesWithdrawn
    mphkm/h
    365 Networker Express Class 365 Networker Express in Great Northern livery by Hugh Llewelyn.jpg EMU 1001614401994-95Express services between London King's Cross and / Ely / King's Lynn / Peterborough 20182021
    Great Northern Class 365.png
    313 313057 AAP.jpg

    Southern Class 313 231 at Preston Park on the Sussex Rambler railtour.jpg

    EMU 7512136419761977 Northern City Line
    West Coastway line
    East Coastway line
    Seaford branch line
    2019 (Great Northern)
    2023 (Southern) [64]
    313 First Capital Connect and Great Northern.png
    313 Southern Coastway.png
    313 British Rail Corporate Heritage.png
    319 319373 and 319 number 438 to Sevenoaks 2E45 by Train Photos.jpg EMU 100161486
    • 1987–1988
    • 1990
    All Thameslink services20152017
    Class 319 Thameslink Diagram.png
    321 Great Northern 321418, King's Cross (16475785242).jpg EMU 10016141319891990Express services between London King's Cross to Peterborough and Cambridge 2016
    377 Electrostar 377501 and 377 number 515 Blackfriars to Grove Park CSD 5Y63 (16436025811).jpg 2620082009Some Thameslink services2017
    Class 377 First Capital Connect Diagram.PNG
    455 455826 and 455 number to Beckenham Junction.jpg EMU 75120446 [66] 19821984Metro and commuter services from London Victoria & London Bridge 2022
    Class 455 Southern Diagram.png
    171 British Rail Class 171 171722.jpg DMU 10016143 [67] 2003-2004 Oxted line
    Marshlink line
    2022
    Southern Class 171-2-7.png
    Southern Class 171-4-8.png

    Performance

    Govia and Thameslink passenger numbers 2010-11 to 2018-19 Q4, annual rolling average Thameslink and Great Northern passenger numbers 2012 to 2015.PNG
    Govia and Thameslink passenger numbers 2010–11 to 2018–19 Q4, annual rolling average

    In February 2015, Thameslink and Great Northern came at the bottom of Which? magazine's Best and worst UK train companies customer survey, scoring a customer satisfaction score of 43%. Thameslink and Great Northern were also scored 2/5 stars in each of the specific categories covered by the survey (including Reliability, Punctuality and Cleanliness of toilets) – which is the worst performance of any UK train operator. In the Which? 2017 survey, Thameslink and Great Northern improved their performance slightly with a rating of 46% also, their position in the table was second to bottom [70] (Southern were in bottom place, but had been subject huge disruption due to industrial action).

    Passenger numbers on Govia Thameslink Railway (which also includes Southern and Gatwick Express) have risen from 262 million annually in 2010–11 to 327 million annually in 2015–16. [69]

    Notes

    1. 1 2 Trains reverse here

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    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise</span> British railway management franchise

    Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) is a management contract for the provision of passenger services on the Thameslink and Great Northern routes to Bedford, Luton, Peterborough, King's Lynn, Cambridge, London King's Cross, London Moorgate, Sutton, Wimbledon and Brighton, as well as the whole Southern network and the jointly operated First Capital Connect Southeastern services, which were added to the franchise on 25 July 2015, with the Southern and Gatwick Express brands retained.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 387</span> Class of British Electrostar electric multiple units

    The British Rail Class 387 Electrostar is a type of electric multiple unit passenger train built by Bombardier Transportation. They are part of the Electrostar family of trains. A total of 107 units were built, with the first train entering service with Thameslink in December 2014. The trains are currently in service with Great Western Railway, Govia Thameslink Railway, and Heathrow Express. The Class 387 is a variation of the Class 379 with dual-voltage capability which allows units to run on 750 V DC third rail, as well as use 25 kV AC OLE. The class were the final rolling stock orders from the Bombardier Electrostar family with 2,805 vehicles built over 18 years between 1999 and 2017.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 717</span> Trains on services into Moorgate, London

    The British Rail Class 717 Desiro City is an electric multiple unit passenger train built by Siemens Mobility, currently operated by Govia Thameslink Railway on its Great Northern Hertford Loop and Welwyn stopping routes. Built to replace Class 313 trains on services into Moorgate, a total of 25 six-car units began entering regular service from March 2019. The units are stylistically similar to the Class 700s and the Class 707s

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    Commons-logo.svg Media related to Govia Thameslink Railway at Wikimedia Commons

    Preceded by
    First Capital Connect
    Thameslink and Great Northern franchise
    Operator of Thameslink, Southern
    and Great Northern franchise

    2014/2015 – 2025
    Incumbent
    Preceded by
    Southern
    South Central (incl Gatwick Express) franchise