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 of England
Stations operated238
Parent company
Reporting mark GN, GX, SN, TL
Other
Website gtrailway.com

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is a British train operating company that operates the TSGN rail franchise. 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 2022–2024 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 2025, with the option for the government to extend this until 1 April 2028 at the latest. [1]

GTR is one of several train operators impacted by the 2022–2024 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 [36] [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 section' 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 Hatfieldonly. [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 seven 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]

    There are also three extra trains throughout the evening peak hours that operate from Gatwick Airport to Bedford in that direction only, calling at various stations. [41]

    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. [42] The Great Northern Monday-Friday off-peak service pattern, as of December 2024, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph), consists of the following: [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
    ‹See TfM› 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
    ‹See TfM› London Victoria – Brighton 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

    The standard off-peak service as of June 2024 is: [48]

    Brighton Main Line
    RoutetphCalling at
    London Victoria – Littlehampton 2
    London Victoria – Eastbourne 1
    London Victoria – Ore 1
    Arun Valley line
    RoutetphCalling at
    London Victoria – Portsmouth Harbour via Crawley2
    • This route splits/merges at Horsham with the route to Bognor Regis (see below). Fishbourne, Bosham, Nutbourne and Warblington are served by the same train
    London Victoria – Bognor Regis via Crawley2
    Seaford branch line
    RoutetphCalling at
    Brighton – Seaford 2
    • Services alternate between serving Southease and Newhaven Harbour
    East Coastway and Marshlink lines
    RoutetphCalling at
    Brighton – Eastbourne 1
    Brighton – Ore 1
    Eastbourne – Ashford International 1
    West Coastway line
    RoutetphCalling at
    Brighton – Southampton Central 2
    Brighton – Portsmouth & Southsea 1
    Brighton to Chichester via Littlehampton1
    • Hove, Aldrington, Portslade, Fishersgate, Southwick, Shoreham-by-Sea, Lancing, East Worthing, Worthing, West Worthing, Durrington-on-Sea, Goring-by-Sea, Angmering, Littlehampton, [a] Ford, Barnham,
    Barnham – Bognor Regis2Shuttle service
    Oxted line
    RoutetphCalling at
    London Victoria – East Grinstead 1
    London Bridge – Uckfield 1
    Reigate and Redhill–Tonbridge line
    RoutetphCalling at
    London Victoria – Reigate 2
    Redhill – Tonbridge 1
    West London Route
    RoutetphCalling at
    Watford Junction – East Croydon 1
    Mole Valley Line
    RoutetphCalling at
    London Victoria – Dorking 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 Victoria – West 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

    Southern exterior signage at Norwood Junction station (now replaced by London Overground signage) Norwoodjunction5.JPG
    Southern exterior signage at Norwood Junction station (now replaced by London Overground signage)

    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 September 2022, 3 Class 171 trains were transferred to East Midlands Railway with the remaining trains reconfigured into 2 and 3 car formations. [64] [65]

    In April 2023, GTR issued a tender for between 21 and 30 new trains to provide additional capacity for their Great Northern route. [66] In March 2024, it was announced that Great Northern would lease all 30 Class 379s previously used by Greater Anglia. [67] [68] [69] As of November 2024, the trains have been accepted for service and are expected to enter service in 2025. [70]

    In May 2023 the Southern Class 313 units were withdrawn from service. [71]

    In November 2024, Southeastern announced that 13 Class 377 units would be transferred from Southern. The first two units will transfer before the December 2024 timetable change with the remaining units expected to transfer before December 2025. [72]

    Current fleet

    FamilyClassImageTypeTop speedNumberCarriagesRoutes operatedBuilt
    mphkm/h
    Southern
    Bombardier Turbostar 171/2 Class 171 Hastings 13745676313.jpg
    171804Collington.jpg     		DMU 1001601 [64] 3 Brighton Main Line (London Bridge to South Croydon)
    Oxted line (to Uckfield only)
    East Coastway line
    Marshlink line     		2003–04
    171/7 12 [64]
    171/8 4 [64] 2
    Southern Class 171-2-7.png
    Southern Class 171-4-8.png
    Bombardier Electrostar 377/1 377 322 of Southern at St Denys, Southampton.jpg
    Southern 377 at Hemel Hempstead.JPG
    Southern Class 377701 (42130818171).jpg     		EMU 644Entire Southern network apart from sections between Hurst Green and Uckfield & between Ore and Ashford International 2001–05
    377/2 15
    377/3 283
    377/4 754
    377/6 265
    377/7 8
    Southern Class 377-3..png
    Southern Class 377-1-4.png
    Southern Class 377-7.png
    387/2 387204 Gatwick Airport.jpg 1101775 (Varies)4 [73] Units borrowed from Gatwick Express on a rotational basis according to demand.

    Brighton Main Line
    East Coastway line
    West Coastway line (Brighton to Southampton Central)

    		2016–17
    Gatwick Express Class 387-2.png
    Gatwick Express
    Bombardier Electrostar

    387

    		Gatwick Express 387210 , Clapham Junction 24.3.18.jpg EMU 110177224Gatwick Express services between London Victoria & Brighton 2015–2016
    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 11017738 [73] 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 2014–2017
    Great Northern Class 387-1.png GWR Class 387-1.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 services2015–2018
    5512
    Thameslink Class 700-0.png
    Thameslink Class 700-1.png

    Future fleet

    Govia Thameslink Railway issued a tender in April 2023 for between 21 and 30 four-coach 100 mph (160 km/h) trains, with an estimated value of £48.6 million. [66]

    On 12 March 2024 it was announced that Great Northern would lease the full 30-unit fleet of Class 379 units. [67] In November 2024 it was announced these units would enter service in early 2025. [74]

    FamilyClassImageTypeTop speedNumberCarriagesRoute(s) to be operatedBuiltIn service
    mphkm/h
    Bombardier Electrostar 379 Tottenham Hale BR station 20161116 091106 (40816506833).jpg EMU 100160304 Great 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 2010–2011Early 2025
    GA Class 379 w-pantograph.png

    Past fleet

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

    ClassImageTypeTop speedCarriagesNumberBuiltRoutesWithdrawn
    mphkm/h
    171 British Rail Class 171 171722.jpg DMU 10016143 [75] 2003-2004 Oxted line
    Marshlink line     		2022
    Southern Class 171-2-7.png
    Southern Class 171-4-8.png
    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 2018–2021
    Great Northern Class 365.png
    313 313057 AAP.jpg

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

    		751213641976–1977 Northern City Line
    West Coastway line
    East Coastway line
    Seaford branch line     		2019 (Great Northern)
    2023 (Southern) [71]
    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 100161486
    • 1987–1988
    • 1990
    		All Thameslink services2015–2017
    Class 319 Thameslink Diagram.png
    321 Great Northern 321418, King's Cross (16475785242).jpg 1001614131989–1990Express 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 262008–2009Some Thameslink services2017
    Class 377 First Capital Connect Diagram.PNG
    455 455826 and 455 number to Beckenham Junction.jpg 75120446 [76] 1982–1984Metro and commuter services from London Victoria & London Bridge 2022
    Class 455 Southern Diagram.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 [79] (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. [78]

    Notes

    1. 1 2 3 Trains reverse here

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    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton Main Line</span> Railway line between London and Brighton

    The Brighton Main Line is a railway line in southern England linking London to Brighton. It starts at two termini in the capital, London Victoria and London Bridge, and the branches from each meet at East Croydon, from where the route continues southwards via Gatwick Airport to the coast. The line serves the suburbs of South London, as well as the towns of Redhill, Horley, Crawley, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevenage railway station</span> Railway station in Hertfordshire, England

    Stevenage railway station serves the town of Stevenage in Hertfordshire, England. The station is around 27.6 miles (44.4 km) north of London King's Cross on the East Coast Main Line. Stevenage is served and managed by Govia Thameslink Railway, which operates stopping services southbound to King’s Cross, Brighton, Gatwick Airport and Moorgate; northbound services connect to Cambridge and Peterborough. It is also served frequently by London North Eastern Railway, which operates non-stopping services southbound to King's Cross and northbound to York, Leeds and Edinburgh Waverley. Hull Trains and Lumo operate very limited services from the station.

    The Southern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948 until 1992 when railways were re-privatised. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s. The region covered south London, southern England and the south coast, including the busy commuter belt areas of Kent, Sussex and Surrey. The region was largely based upon the former Southern Railway area.

    Govia is a transport company based in the United Kingdom. It was formed in November 1996 as a joint venture between Go-Ahead Group (65%) and Keolis (35%) to bid for rail franchises during the privatisation of British Rail.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">First Capital Connect</span> Former British train operating company

    First Capital Connect (FCC) was a British train operating company, owned by FirstGroup, that operated the Thameslink and Great Northern sectors from April 2006 to September 2014 which later became the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Southeastern (train operating company, 2006–2021)</span> Former train operating company in South East England

    London & South Eastern Railway Limited, trading as Southeastern, was a British train operating company owned by Govia that operated passenger rail services in South East England. It was the key operator of commuter and regional services in South East London and Kent, and also served parts of East Sussex.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Potters Bar railway station</span> Network Rail station in Hertfordshire, England

    Potters Bar railway station serves the town of Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, England. It is located on the Great Northern Route, 12 miles 57 chains (20.5 km) north of London King's Cross on the East Coast Main Line.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Northern route</span> Suburban rail service in Great Britain

    The Great Northern route, formerly known as Great Northern Electrics, is the name given to suburban rail services run on the southern end of Britain's East Coast Main Line and its associated branches. Services operate to or from London King's Cross and London Moorgate. Destinations include Hertford North, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, and Cambridge, and in peak hours, additional services run to Peterborough and King's Lynn. Services run through parts of Greater London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk.

    <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 Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express and Southern. 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 similar to the Class 700s and the Class 707s.

    References

    1. 1 2 "National Rail Contract Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern" (PDF). Department for Transport. 24 March 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
    2. ↑ "Consultation on the combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise". Department for Transport. 26 September 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
    3. ↑ "Expanding and improving the rail network". Department for Transport. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
    4. ↑ "Rail franchising future programme". Department for Transport. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
    5. ↑ "Railway plan puts new focus on passengers". Secretary of State for Transport statement. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
    6. 1 2 "Thameslink Southern & Great Northern Invitation to Tender" (PDF). Department for Transport. 26 September 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
    7. ↑ "Govia chosen for new Thameslink contract". Railnews. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
    8. ↑ "Govia wins TSGN franchise, beating FirstGroup". Rail Technology. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
    9. ↑ "New rail franchising deal set to transform passenger services across London and south east". Department for Transport (DfT). 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
    10. ↑ "Govia wins Thameslink rail franchise". BBC News Online. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
    11. ↑ McEwan, Fergus (24 July 2015). "Ambitious plans to improve Southern rail network under new franchise". getsurrey.co.uk.
    12. ↑ Montgomery, Angus (17 December 2014). "Britain's biggest rail franchise rolls out new identity". designweek.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
    13. ↑ Topham, Gwyn (23 May 2014). "FirstGroup loses Thameslink franchise to Go-Ahead joint venture". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
    14. ↑ James, Ben (18 June 2016). "Fines issued to rail provider GTR for poor performance slammed". The Argus. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
    15. ↑ Usborne, Simon (8 July 2016). "All aboard the Southern chaos train: the commuters caught in a war on rails". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
    16. ↑ "GTR freezes thousands of fares and caps season tickets to rate of inflation". mynewsdesk.com. 4 December 2015. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
    17. ↑ "Thameslink woes hit Go-Ahead shares". BBC News. 14 June 2016. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
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    19. ↑ Watts, Joseph (17 June 2016). "Govia Thameslink Railway boss refuses to defend CEO £2m pay". Evening Standard. London. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
    20. ↑ Topham, Gwyn; Weaver, Matthew (12 July 2016). "Take Southern rail franchise off operator, urges Sadiq Khan". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
    21. ↑ "Rail minister Claire Perry resigns". BBC News. 15 July 2016. Archived from the original on 16 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
    22. ↑ "Coronavirus: Rail franchise agreements suspended to avoid company collapses". Sky News. 23 March 2020. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
    23. ↑ Osborne, Samuel (27 December 2021). "COVID-19: Christmas travel disruption as Omicron hits rail and airline staffing". news.sky.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
    24. ↑ "Temporary suspension of Gatwick Express". Gatwick Express. 30 March 2020. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
    25. ↑ "Gatwick Express to resume non-stop services from next month". railadvent.co.uk. March 2022. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
    26. ↑ "Rail strike: RMT union votes for national action". BBC News . 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
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    28. ↑ Powling, Joshua (24 June 2022). "Rail strikes in Sussex: Southern, Thameslink and Southeastern services running on Friday, June 24". getsurrey.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
    29. ↑ "The dates of the train, Tube and bus strikes this week, and how services will be affected". inews.co.uk. 20 June 2022. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
    30. ↑ "Thameslink: Train Timetables". thameslinkrailway.com. June 2018. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
    31. 1 2 3 4 "C: Bedford, Luton and St Albans to London, Sutton, the Medway Towns, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport and the South Coast | Timetable valid from Monday 11 December 2023 until Monday 27 May 2024". timetables.thameslinkrailway.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
    32. 1 2 "Q: London, Croydon and Gatwick Airport to Haywards Heath and Brighton". timetables.thameslinkrailway.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
    33. ↑ "O: London and Croydon to Redhill, Reigate, Tonbridge, Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges". timetables.thameslinkrailway.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
    34. 1 2 "A: King's Lynn, Ely, Cambridge, Peterborough and Stevenage to London, Gatwick Airport, Horsham and Brighton". Thameslink. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
    35. ↑ "P: London, Croydon and Gatwick Airport to Crawley and Horsham". timetables.thameslinkrailway.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
    36. 1 2 3 4 "E: Sevenoaks, Swanley, Orpington, Bromley South and Catford to London".
    37. ↑ "F: The Medway Towns, Gravesend, Dartford and Woolwich to London and Luton".
    38. 1 2 "H: Sutton and Wimbledon to London via Streatham and Tulse Hill".
    39. ↑ "B: Stevenage, Hertford North, Enfield Chase, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Potters Bar to London".
    40. ↑ "N: London and Croydon to Oxted, East Grinstead and Uckfield".
    41. ↑ "Timetable O". timetables.thameslinkrailway.com. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
    42. ↑ "Train Routes". London: Govia Thameslink Railway. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
    43. ↑ "Great Northern Timetables as of December 2024".
    44. ↑ "Gatwick Express service to remain". BBC News. 4 April 2007. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
    45. ↑ "Company Information". Govia. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
    46. 1 2 3 Southern Railway (23 May 2023). "Table R: London Victoria to Gatwick Airport and Brighton (Gatwick Express services only)". timetables.southernrailway.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
    47. ↑ Table 175 National Rail timetable, May 2023
    48. ↑ "Southern June 2024 Timetable".
    49. 1 2 Topham, Gwyn (23 May 2014). "FirstGroup loses Thameslink franchise to Go-Ahead joint venture". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
    50. ↑ "Govia awarded TSGN franchise" (Press release). Govia. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 16 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
    51. ↑ "TSGN". Govia. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
    52. ↑ "Proposed Thameslink service pattern" (PDF). Thameslink Programme. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
    53. ↑ "Easier journeys and better information". Govia. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
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    55. ↑ "More reliable and faster services". Govia. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
    56. ↑ "Bombardier to manufacture 116 new train carriages for Thameslink rolling stock cascade" (Press release). Southern. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on 19 September 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
    57. ↑ "First Great Western plans AT300s to Cornwall". Railway Gazette International. 23 March 2015. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
    58. ↑ Clinnick, Richard. "Latest Class 387 Electrostar deal details". Rail Magazine. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
    59. ↑ Clinnick, Richard. "Great Northern Class 700s to operate from next year". Rail Magazine. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
    60. ↑ "Siemens selected to supply Moorgate suburban EMU fleet". Railway Gazette International. London. 22 December 2015. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
    61. ↑ Clinnick, Richard (22 December 2015). "Siemens favoured for new GN trains". Rail. Peterborough. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
    62. ↑ Clinnick, Richard. "New Great Northern Class 717 carries first passengers". Rail Magazine. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
    63. 1 2 Clinnick, Richard. "New Govia Thameslink Railway trains to be Class 717s". Rail. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
    64. 1 2 3 4 "EMR Evolves for the Future". Modern Railways. No. 889. Key Publishing. August 2022. pp. 51–56.
    65. ↑ "Four GTR Turbostars moving to EMR". Modern Railways . No. 885. June 2022. p. 102.
    66. 1 2 "Govia Thameslink Rail (GTR): Provision of a fleet of up to 30 x 4-car EMUs". Delta Sourcing. 25 April 2023. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
    67. 1 2 "Leasing for the GN Network of Additional Rolling Stock". find-tender.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
    68. ↑ "GA withdraws all Class 379s". Today's Railways UK. No. 242. April 2022. p. 66.
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    71. 1 2 Southern Railway [@SouthernRailUK] (19 May 2023). "The last day of scheduled passenger services with 313 stock was today" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 May 2023– via Twitter.
    72. ↑ "Southeastern to receive 13 Class 377s from Govia Thameslink as part of EMU reshuffle". Rail Magazine. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
    73. 1 2 Russell, David (July 2024). "Class 387 Electrostar". Units. Rail Express . No. 338. p. 23.
    74. ↑ "Southeastern to receive 13 Class 377s from Govia Thameslink as part of EMU reshuffle". Rail Magazine. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
    75. ↑ "EMR Evoles for the Future". Modern Railways . October 2022. p. 52.
    76. ↑ "Southern: Useful Information". www.southernrailway.com. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
    77. ↑ "Table 1223 - Passenger journeys by operator | ORR Data Portal". dataportal.orr.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
    78. 1 2 "Govia Thameslink Railway - Table 2.8". Archived from the original on 1 May 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
    79. ↑ "Best train companies overall". Which? . Archived from the original on 3 June 2017.

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    Preceded by
    First Capital Connect
    Thameslink and Great Northern franchise
    		 Operator of Thameslink, Southern
    and Great Northern franchise
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    Preceded by
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    South Central (incl Gatwick Express) franchise
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