- South Central franchise
Infobox Rail companies
name = South Central
bgcolor =
logo_filename =
image_filename = Unit 377213 Watford.jpg
widthpx = 300px
franchise = South Central
September 20 2009 - July 2015
nameforarea = Region
regions =London ,West Sussex ,East Sussex
secregions =Hampshire ,Surrey ,Kent ,Hertfordshire
fleet = TBC
abbr= SC
stations = 213+
parent_company = TBA
website =
websitename =South Central is the name of a future franchise of train services that will operate across south-east
England . It is due to commence on20 September 2009 and will consist of the existing operations of Southern (including the formerGatwick Express franchise [The Gatwick Express franchise was merged into the Southern franchise on 22 June 2008] ) and will be combined with the Southeastern services on theRedhill to Tonbridge Line .Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7415027.stm|title= Promises for new rail franchise|publisher=BBC News|date=2008-05-22|accessdate=2008-05-23] The franchise will run for 5 years and 10 months, with the possibility of a further extension of two years at the discretion of theDepartment for Transport .Cite web |url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/wmssouthcentral |title= South Central franchise and accreditation process|publisher=Department for Transport|date=2008-05-22|accessdate=2008-05-31]Routes
The following services will make up the franchise:
;from present Southern franchise
*Brighton Main Line - London (Victoria and London Bridge) to Brighton
*East Coastway - Brighton to Hastings (via Eastbourne)
**includingMarsh Link Line - Hastings to Ashford International
**including "Seaford Flyer" Line - Brighton to Seaford (via Lewes)
**Lewes to Wivelsfield
*West Coastway - Brighton to Portsmouth Harbour and/orSouthampton Central
**Littlehampton branch
**Bognor Regis branch
*Arun Valley Line -Brighton Main Line to West Coastway (via Horsham)
*North Downs Line - Redhill to Reigate (peak only)
*Oxted Line s, divides at Hurst Green to
**East Grinstead
**Uckfield
*Sutton & Mole Valley Line - London (Victoria and London Bridge) to Horsham (via Dorking) or Guildford (both via Mitcham Junction or West Croydon)
**including Epsom Downs branch
*Caterham - London (Victoria, Charing Cross and London Bridge) to Caterham (via theBrighton Main Line , diverging at Purley)
*Tattenham Corner - London (Victoria and London Bridge) and Charing Cross to Tattenham Corner (via theBrighton Main Line , diverging at Purley)
*Victoria to East Croydon via
**Crystal Palace and Balham
**Selhurst and Balham
*London Bridge to East Croydon via
**Sydenham
**Selhurst and Tulse Hill
**Crystal Palace and Tulse Hill
*South London Lines - Victoria to London Bridge
**"inner" via Peckham Rye
**"outer" via Crystal Palace
*West London Line - Clapham Junction to Watford Junction andMilton Keynes Central ;from ex-Gatwick Express franchise
*London Victoria to Gatwick Airport;from present Southeastern franchise
*Redhill to TonbridgeUckfield - Lewes
The franchise agreement will include a change mechanism enabling the Department for Transport to incorporate supplemental routes into the South Central franchise and invite bidders to submit priced options for schemes put forward by stakeholders. One such scheme could, as indicated in the South Central Franchise Consultation Paper, be the reopening of the Uckfield - Lewes line which closed in 1969. [Cite web |url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/southcentralfranchise/southcentralfranchisecons.pdf|title=South Central Franchise Consultation Paper|publisher=Department for Transport|date=2008-05-22|accessdate=2008-08-21|format=PDF]
Bidders
The bidding process started in
May 2008 when expressions of interest were sought, with the process formally beginning onAugust 20 ,2008 when theDepartment for Transport announced [Cite web |url=http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=377149&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False |title=Bidders for South Central franchise announced |publisher=Department for Transport/News Distribution Service|date=2008-08-20|accessdate=2008-08-20] that the four shortlisters bidders for the franchise were:*NedRailways South Central Limited (NedRailways Limited)
*NXSC Trains Limited (National Express Group )
*Southern Railway Limited (Govia ) - "Current operator"
*Southern Trains Limited (Stagecoach Group )The identity of the successful bidder will be announced in early Summer 2009.
References
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