Southern (train operating company)

Infobox Rail companies
bgcolor = A7D1C9
logo_filename = Southern toc logo.png logowidth = 200px
image_filename = Worthing Station 03.jpg
widthpx = 300px
franchise = South Central
October 2000 - 20 September 2009
Gatwick Express
22 June 2008 - 20 September 2009
nameforarea = Region
regions = London, West Sussex, East Sussex,
secregions = Hampshire,Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire
fleet = 298
abbr= SN
stations = 213 (161 operated)
parent_company = Govia (Go-Ahead Group / Keolis)
website = www.southernrailway.com
websitename = www.southernrailway.com

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

Southern is owned by Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, which also owns the neighbouring "Southeastern". Officially named "New Southern Railway Ltd", it is was branded "Southern" on 30 May 2004 in a deliberate recall of the pre-nationalisation Southern Railway, with a green roundel logo with ‘Southern’ written in yellow in a green bar. The brand used by the previous franchisee since 2000, Connex, was South Central.

On 22 June 2008, Southern assumed responsibility for the non-stop Gatwick Express between Victoria and Gatwick Airport, which from December 2008 will be extended to Brighton during peak times. [citeweb|url=http://www.southernrailway.com/news.php?id=173&u=news.php|title=Southern Integrates with Gatwick Express|date=17 June 2008|publisher=Southern]

Routes

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

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

*from London Bridge to:
** Victoria via Crystal Palace - 2
** Beckenham Jct (via Birbeck) - 2
** Caterham - 2
** Smitham via Crystal Palace - 2
** Uckfield - 1
** Victoria via Denmark Hill - 2
** Sutton via Sydenham and West Croydon - 2
** Tattenham Cnr - 2
** West Croydon via Norbury - 2
** Horsham - 1

*Off peak services not originating from London include:
** Brighton to Seaford - 2
** Brighton to Hove - 2
** Brighton to Lewes 2, 1 extended to Ore
** Brighton to West Worthing - 2
** Brighton to Ashford Intl - 1
** Brighton to Southampton/Portsmouth Hbr - 1 each
** Brighton to Watford Jct via Kensington (Olympia) - 1
** Portsmouth & Southsea to Littlehampton - 1
** Littlehampton to Bognor Regis - 1
** Barnham to Bognor Regis - 1
** Tunbridge Wells to Horsham via Gatwick - 1

Performance

Punctuality figures released by the ORR for the fourth quarter of the 2007/8 financial year were PPM of 91.1% and MAA of 89.9%. [cite web|title=National Rail Trends 2007-2008 Quarter Four|url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/375.pdf|publisher=Office of Rail Regulation]

Rolling stock

Current fleet

As part of the Government's rolling stock plan Southern will receive 12 new 4-car dual voltage Class 377 units that are planned to be transferred to First Capital Connect to operate expanded services on the Thameslink route. To replace them Southern was to take a number of Class 465 units from Southeastern. However, the logistics of having these units serviced at Slade Green TMD but operating on Southern routes led to the decision to purchase 11 new 4-car Class 377 units to be delivered in 2009. [citeweb|url=http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/issues/RHUK/Issue123.pdf|title=More Bombardier Electrostars for Southern|date=10 March 2008|publisher=Railway Herald Issue 123] Once the new Thameslink rolling stock is delivered, the 12 Class 377 units will be returned to Southern from FCC.

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

The Class 442 units are being repainted into Gatwick Express livery and driver training has already commenced.

Future

In the March edition of the Londoner newspaper, the former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and TfL announced their desire to take over some of Southern's routes, including the South London line, and include them in the London Overground network when Southern's franchise runs out in 2009, but the Department for Transport appears to have rejected this plan. The May 2008 South Central Franchise Consultation document indicates that whilst TfL will have a role in shaping the franchise specification, the Government will continue to let and manage the franchise contract. [ [http://www.london.gov.uk/londoner/08mar/p3b.jsp?nav=around Next Stop South London] - The Londonder, 08/03/08]

Criticism

In early 2006, Southern became the focus of attention from cyclists' groups as a result of the strict enforcement of their policy prohibiting the carriage of ordinary cycles during peak hours [ [http://www.southernrailway.com/main.php?page_id=131 Cycle Policy - Southern railway ] ] . Southern and sister company Southeastern were criticized in January 2007 for not wishing to introduce Oyster Pay As You Go on their London routes, stating that it was not financially viable. In 2007 Southern introduced Oyster on its Watford Junction to Clapham Junction route. [In February 2007 Southern's managing director Chris Burchell said: "There are still a number of outstanding issues that need to be discussed with TfL, but we do not believe these will prevent us making PAYG a reality on our network. We look forward to discussions with TfL on how we can make this happen as soon as possible for our passengers." See [http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.1165315.0.southern_say_yes_to_oyster.php] but Southern have not made any official statement since.]

From 9 December 2007, following the withdrawal of Basingstoke to Brighton services by South West Trains, the Basingstoke-Brighton service was replaced by more frequent services from Southampton or Portsmouth Harbour to Brighton or London, which could involve changing trains during the journey or having to catch a much earlier train. Towards the end of December Southern had to hold an emergency meeting about the new timetable, as many services were running late or being cancelled. The number of complaints had increased since the new timetable started.Fact|date=June 2008

External links

* [http://www.southernrailway.com Southern website]

References

See also

*Rail transport in the United Kingdom
s-ttl|title=Operator of South Central franchise
years=2001 — present 2009? s-ttl|title=Operator of Gatwick Express service
years=2008 — present 2009?