Govia Thameslink Railway
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Overview | |
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Franchise(s) |
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Main region(s) |
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Stations operated | 238 |
Parent company |
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Reporting mark | GN, GX, SN, TL |
Other | |
Website | gtrailway |
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%).
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
[edit]Background
[edit]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
[edit]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]
Thameslink and Great Northern services
[edit]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]
Thameslink service pattern
[edit]Off-peak
[edit]The Monday–Friday off-peak service pattern, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph), includes:
Route | tph | Calling at |
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Bedford to Brighton[31][32] | 2 | |
Bedford to Three Bridges via Redhill[31][33] | 2 |
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Peterborough to Horsham via Redhill[34][35] | 2 |
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Cambridge to Brighton[34][32] | 2 |
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London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks via Catford and Otford[36] | 2 | |
Luton to Rainham via Greenwich[36][37] | 2 |
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St Albans City to Sutton via Wimbledon (loop)[31][38] | 2 |
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St Albans City to Sutton via Mitcham Junction (loop)[31][38] | 2 |
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Peak hours
[edit]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
[edit]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]
Route | tph | Calling at |
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London King's Cross to Ely | 1 | |
London King's Cross to King's Lynn | 1 |
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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 Cambridge | 1 | Finsbury 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 City | 2 |
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Moorgate to Stevenage via Hertford North | 2 |
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Southern and Gatwick Express services
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Watford_Junction_railway_station_MMB_06_377212.jpg/220px-Watford_Junction_railway_station_MMB_06_377212.jpg)
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
[edit]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]
Route | tph | Calling at |
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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
[edit]The standard off-peak service as of June 2024 is:[48]
Brighton Main Line | ||
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Route | tph | Calling at |
London Victoria – Littlehampton | 2 | |
London Victoria – Eastbourne | 1 |
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London Victoria – Ore | 1 |
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Arun Valley line | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
London Victoria – Portsmouth Harbour via Crawley | 2 |
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London Victoria – Bognor Regis via Crawley | 2 |
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Seaford branch line | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Brighton – Seaford | 2 |
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East Coastway and Marshlink lines | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Brighton – Eastbourne | 1 | |
Brighton – Ore | 1 |
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Eastbourne – Ashford International | 1 |
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West Coastway line | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Brighton – Southampton Central | 2 |
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Brighton – Portsmouth & Southsea | 1 |
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Brighton to Chichester via Littlehampton | 1 |
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Barnham – Bognor Regis | 2 | Shuttle service |
Oxted line | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
London Victoria – East Grinstead | 1 |
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London Bridge – Uckfield | 1 |
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Reigate and Redhill–Tonbridge line | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
London Victoria – Reigate | 2 | |
Redhill – Tonbridge | 1 | |
West London Route | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
Watford Junction – East Croydon | 1 |
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Mole Valley Line | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
London Victoria – Dorking via Carshalton | 1 | |
London Victoria – Horsham via Carshalton | 1 |
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London Victoria – Epsom Downs via Norbury | 2 |
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London Bridge – Epsom | 2 |
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Caterham and Tattenham Corner lines | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
London Bridge – Caterham | 2 |
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London Bridge – Tattenham Corner | 2 |
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London via Crystal Palace and/or Tulse Hill | ||
Route | tph | Calling at |
London Victoria – West Croydon via Crystal Palace | 2 |
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London Victoria – London Bridge via Crystal Palace | 2 |
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London Bridge – East Croydon via Tulse Hill | 2 | |
London Bridge – Beckenham Junction via Tulse Hill and Crystal Palace | 2 |
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Franchise commitments
[edit]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]
- Enhance all 239 stations including improving access, replace electronic information screens and working with local authorities on the redevelopment of St Albans and Luton stations.
- Increase staffing hours at many stations, with the 100 busiest stations staffed from first to last train, like London Overground stations.
- Extension of 'the key' smartcard which Southern has been introducing.
- Provide 104 stations with free Wi-Fi.
- £1.5 million on station access improvements including increased cycle storage and electrical vehicle charging points.
Govia also stated its intention to bring about the following:[51]
- Half-hourly King's Lynn to London services
- Direct Peterborough, Cambridge, Welwyn Garden City and Finsbury Park to Tattenham Corner, Caterham, Horsham services.[52]
- Increasing Great Northern suburban services to four trains per hour via Enfield Chase and New Barnet
- Great Northern suburban services to run to Moorgate at weekends and on weekday evenings
- 50% increase in capacity from Uckfield to London in the peaks.
- Doubling overnight Thameslink services
- Sevenoaks Thameslink services to run on Saturdays
- Working to extend Oyster to Epsom, Gatwick Airport, Luton Airport Parkway, Welwyn Garden City and Hertford North[53]
- Class 387 Electrostars for King's Lynn express services, releasing Class 317s, 321s and some Class 365s for newly electrified routes elsewhere.[54]
- Creating an alliance arrangement with Network Rail in 2016, like South West Trains.[55]
Rolling stock
[edit]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
[edit]Family | Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Carriages | Routes operated | Built | |
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mph | km/h | ||||||||
Southern | |||||||||
Bombardier Turbostar | 171 | ![]() ![]() |
DMU | 100 | 160 | 12[65][66] | 3 | Brighton Main Line (London Bridge to South Croydon) Oxted line (to Uckfield only) East Coastway line Marshlink line |
2003–04 |
4[66] | 2 | ||||||||
![]() ![]() | |||||||||
Bombardier Electrostar | 377/1 | ![]() ![]() |
EMU | 64 | 4 | Entire Southern network apart from sections between Hurst Green and Uckfield & between Ore and Ashford International | 2001–05 | ||
377/2 | 15 | ||||||||
377/3 | 28 | 3 | |||||||
377/4 | 75 | 4 | |||||||
377/6 | 26 | 5 | |||||||
377/7 | 8 | ||||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||||||
387/2 | ![]() |
110 | 177 | Varies | 4[67] | Units borrowed from Gatwick Express on a rotational basis according to demand. Brighton Main Line |
2016–17 | ||
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Gatwick Express | |||||||||
Bombardier Electrostar | ![]() |
EMU | 110 | 177 | 18 | 4 | Gatwick Express services between London Victoria & Brighton | 2015–2016 | |
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Great Northern | |||||||||
Bombardier Electrostar | 387 | ![]() |
EMU | 110 | 177 | 39[67] | 4 | 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 | 2014–2017 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||||||
Siemens Desiro | ![]() |
85 | 137 | 25 | 6 | Northern City Line services between Moorgate & Welwyn Garden City / Stevenage via Hertford North | 2018 | ||
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Thameslink | |||||||||
Siemens Desiro | 700 Desiro City | ![]() ![]() |
EMU | 100 | 161 | 60 | 8 | All Thameslink services | 2015–2018 |
55 | 12 | ||||||||
![]() ![]() |
Future fleet
[edit]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.[68]
On 12 March 2024 it was announced that Great Northern would lease the full 30-unit fleet of Class 379 units.[69]
Family | Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Carriages | Route(s) to be operated | Built | In service | |
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mph | km/h | |||||||||
Bombardier Electrostar | 379 | ![]() |
EMU | 100 | 160 | 30 | 4 | TBC | 2010–2011 | Late 2024 |
![]() |
Past fleet
[edit]Former units operated by Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern include:
Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Carriages | Number | Built | Routes | Withdrawn | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph | km/h | ||||||||
365 Networker Express | ![]() |
EMU | 100 | 161 | 4 | 40 | 1994-95 | Express services between London King's Cross and / Ely / King's Lynn / Peterborough | 2018–2021 |
![]() | |||||||||
313 | ![]() |
75 | 121 | 3 | 64 | 1976–1977 | Northern City Line West Coastway line East Coastway line Seaford branch line |
2019 (Great Northern) 2023 (Southern)[64] | |
![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||||||
319 | ![]() |
100 | 161 | 4 | 86 |
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All Thameslink services | 2015–2017 | |
![]() | |||||||||
321 | ![]() |
100 | 161 | 4 | 13 | 1989–1990 | Express services between London King's Cross to Peterborough and Cambridge | 2016 | |
377 Electrostar | ![]() |
26 | 2008–2009 | Some Thameslink services | 2017 | ||||
455 | ![]() |
75 | 120 | 4 | 46[70] | 1982–1984 | Metro and commuter services from London Victoria & London Bridge | 2022 | |
![]() | |||||||||
171 | ![]() |
DMU | 100 | 161 | 4 | 3[71] | 2003-2004 | Oxted line Marshlink line |
2022 |
![]() ![]() |
Performance
[edit]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[74](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.[73]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Expanding and improving the rail network". Department for Transport. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ "Rail franchising future programme". Department for Transport. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "Govia chosen for new Thameslink contract". Railnews. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ^ "Govia wins TSGN franchise, beating FirstGroup". Rail Technology. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Govia wins Thameslink rail franchise". BBC News Online. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ McEwan, Fergus (24 July 2015). "Ambitious plans to improve Southern rail network under new franchise". getsurrey.co.uk.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Thameslink woes hit Go-Ahead shares". BBC News. 14 June 2016. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ Richard, Craig (17 June 2016). "Boss of Epsom's main train operator Govia Thameslink Railway takes home £2.1m paycheck despite "appalling service"". Your Local Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Topham, Gwyn; Weaver, Matthew (12 July 2016). "Take Southern rail franchise off operator, urges Sadiq Khan". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ^ "Rail minister Claire Perry resigns". BBC News. 15 July 2016. Archived from the original on 16 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Temporary suspension of Gatwick Express". Gatwick Express. 30 March 2020. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Macola, Ilaria Grasso (7 July 2022). "Govia Thameslink workers vote in favour of strike". cityam.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Thameslink: Train Timetables". thameslinkrailway.com. June 2018. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
- ^ a b c d "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.
- ^ a b "Q: London, Croydon and Gatwick Airport to Haywards Heath and Brighton". timetables.thameslinkrailway.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "O: London and Croydon to Redhill, Reigate, Tonbridge, Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges". timetables.thameslinkrailway.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ a b "A: King's Lynn, Ely, Cambridge, Peterborough and Stevenage to London, Gatwick Airport, Horsham and Brighton". Thameslink. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "P: London, Croydon and Gatwick Airport to Crawley and Horsham". timetables.thameslinkrailway.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d "E: Sevenoaks, Swanley, Orpington, Bromley South and Catford to London".
- ^ "F: The Medway Towns, Gravesend, Dartford and Woolwich to London and Luton".
- ^ a b "H: Sutton and Wimbledon to London via Streatham and Tulse Hill".
- ^ "B: Stevenage, Hertford North, Enfield Chase, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Potters Bar to London".
- ^ "N: London and Croydon to Oxted, East Grinstead and Uckfield".
- ^ "Train Routes". London: Govia Thameslink Railway. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ Table 24 National Rail timetable, May 2020
- ^ Table 25 National Rail timetable, May 2020
- ^ "Gatwick Express service to remain". BBC News. 4 April 2007. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ "Company Information". Govia. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ Table 175 National Rail timetable, May 2023
- ^ "Southern June 2024 Timetable".
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "Govia awarded TSGN franchise" (Press release). Govia. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 16 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
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{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "EMR Evoles for the Future". Modern Railways. October 2022. p. 52.
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External links
[edit] Media related to Govia Thameslink Railway at Wikimedia Commons
- 2014 establishments in England
- Airport rail links in London
- Go-Ahead Group companies
- Keolis
- Rail transport in East Sussex
- Rail transport in Hampshire
- Rail transport in Kent
- Rail transport in Surrey
- Rail transport in West Sussex
- Railway operators in London
- Thameslink
- Train operating companies in the United Kingdom