Southern (train operating company)

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Image:Southern_toc_logo.gif
Franchise(s): South Central
October 2000 - September 20, 2009
Main Region(s): London, West Sussex, East Sussex,
Other Region(s): Hampshire,Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire
Fleet size: 289
Stations called at: 213 (161 operated)
National Rail abbreviation: SN
Parent company: Govia (Go-Ahead Group / Keolis)
Web site: www.southernrailway.com
A sign at Brighton station showing the name change from South Central to Southern
A sign at Brighton station showing the name change from South Central to Southern
Southern exterior signage at Norwood Junction station in Croydon
Southern exterior signage at Norwood Junction station in Croydon

Southern is a train operating company in England. It operates 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.

In June 2008 Southern will assume responsibility for the non-stop Gatwick Express between Victoria and Gatwick Airport, with the addition of through services to and from Brighton during peak times.[1]

Contents

[edit] Routes

Details of each route, including maps and timetables, are on Southern’s website (see External links, below). Its routes, in the order listed on the website, are:

[edit] Performance

Latest punctuality figures released by the ORR as of the third quarter of the 2007/8 financial year were PPM of 85.5% and MAA of 89.2%.[2]

[edit] Rolling stock

[edit] Current fleet

 Class  Image Type  Top speed   Number   Cars per set   Routes operated   Built   Notes 
 mph   km/h 
Class 171/7
Turbostar		 diesel multiple unit 100 160 10 2 Oxted Line
Marshlink		 2003-2004 (2000)
Class 171/8
Turbostar		 diesel multiple unit 100 160 6 4 Oxted Line
Marshlink		 2003-2004 (2000)
Class 319 electric multiple unit 100 160 20 4 Suburban services from London Victoria and London Bridge on London Metro 1987 Dual Voltage
Class 377/1 Electrostar electric multiple unit 100 160 64 4 Entire Southern network 2002–04
Class 377/2 Electrostar electric multiple unit 100 160 15 4 Entire Southern network 2002–2004 Dual Voltage
Class 377/3 Electrostar electric multiple unit 100 160 28 3 Entire Southern network 2002–2004 Some units converted from Class 375/3
Class 377/4 Electrostar electric multiple unit 100 160 75 4 Entire Southern network 2002–2004
Class 455/8 electric multiple unit 75 120 46 4 Suburban services from London Victoria and London Bridge on London Metro 1982
Class 456 electric multiple unit 75 120 24 2 Suburban services from London Victoria and London Bridge on London Metro 1990

[edit] Past fleet

 Class   Image   Type   Built   Withdrawn   Notes 
Class 205 (3H) diesel multiple unit 1957-62 late 2004 Many units have been preserved.
Class 207 (3D) diesel multiple unit 1962 mid 2004 Many units have been preserved.
Class 421 (4Cig) electric multiple unit 1964-72 late 2005 Set 1753 and several loose vehicles have been preserved.
Class 423 (4Vep) electric multiple unit 1967-74 late 2005 Set 3822 and several loose vehicles have been preserved.

[edit] Future fleet

As part of the Government's new rolling stock plan, Southern will receive 12 new 4-car dual voltage Class 377 units which, on delivery, are planned to be transferred to First Capital Connect to operate the expanded services on the Thameslink route. To replace them, Southern initially 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.[3] Once the new Thameslink rolling stock is delivered, the 12 Class 377 units will be returned to Southern from FCC.

From summer 2008 Southern will take over the Gatwick Express services and rolling stock, including the Class 460 fleet and refurbished Class 442 units.

 Class   Image   Type   Number   Introduced   Notes 
Class 377/5 Electrostar electric multiple unit 12

11

 2008

2009

 Dual Voltage
Class 442 (5Wes) Wessex electric multiple unit 17 2008 From South West Trains
Class 460 (8Gat) Juniper electric multiple unit 8 2008 From Gatwick Express

[edit] Future

Main article: South Central franchise

In the March edition of the Londoner newspaper, the former Mayor of London,[Ken Livingstone] and TfL announced its 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. However 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. [4]

[edit] Criticism

 This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please improve this article if you can (January 2008).

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[5]. 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 did introduce Oyster on its Watford Junction to Clapham Junction route.[6]

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 on December Southern had to hold an emergency meeting about the new timetable, as many services were running late or being cancelled. The amount of complaints had increased since the new timetable started.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] References

  1. ^ Brighton Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy. Southern (June 19, 2007).
  2. ^ National Rail Trends 2007-2008 Quarter Three. Office of Rail Regulation.
  3. ^ More Bombardier Electrostars for Southern. Railway Herald Issue 123 (March 10, 2008).
  4. ^ Next Stop South London - The Londonder, 08/03/08
  5. ^ Cycle Policy - Southern railway
  6. ^ 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 [1] but Southern have not made any official statement since.

[edit] See also


Preceded by
Connex South Central		 Operator of South Central franchise
2001 — present		 Incumbent


v • d • e
Current train operating companies in the United Kingdom
◄ Defunct • Future ►
National:
International:
Sub-brands:
1 Operates on the Irish railway network
v • d • e
Go-Ahead Group
United Kingdom bus companies:
UK railway companies (Govia):
London Midland · Southeastern  · Southern
Other operations:
Defunct companies:
Website: go-ahead.com