Southern takes over Thameslink

Cosmic Joker · May 23, 2014

Go-Via, parent company of Southern railways are being awarded the new mega-franchise which will combine the existing Southern + Gatwick Express with Thameslink and Great Northern (both currently FCC).

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...ssenger-services-across-london-and-south-east

I'm sure all the commuters on this board will wish to voice their congratulations..

Personally i'm pleased as I mainly use the trains off-peak and Southern some some of the better cheap fares deals around.

grummitts gloves · May 23, 2014

Same trains, same lines, same problems. Hopefully they'll scrap the merging of the 6.26 from Hassocks with the Arun Valley train at Three Bridges. Never on time!!

BattFink · May 23, 2014

Hmmn, maybe that means I can finally use my smartcard (The Key) on my season ticket for work (as FCC don't accept them at the mo)

Bladders · May 23, 2014

We know..

http://www.northstandchat.com/showthread.php?302192-Govia-win-new-franchise

The Large One · May 23, 2014

While it's ludicrous to have two companies operating trains to London in the manner they do, one of which has exclusivity of ticket over the other, it will probably mean that the train to London Bridge will now cost the same at the train to Victoria, including the possibility of the £6.60 weekend ticket being scrapped. It wouldn't be so bad if the cost to Victoria was the same as the cost to London Bridge - but railway companies don't operate that way.

Joy. Such unbridled joy.

Badger · May 23, 2014

BattFink said:
Hmmn, maybe that means I can finally use my smartcard (The Key) on my season ticket for work (as FCC don't accept them at the mo)

Do FCC not accept them on their trains? I got an email from Southern last week saying you can now use it at Blackfriars, but if you can't use it on FCC trains that seems a bit pointless!

It does make a lot of sense to have one company running all the services on the Brighton Mainline. Obviously the issue is that the company is Southern, who have done a good job in some respects but still have some way to go in areas like customer service.

BattFink · May 23, 2014

Badger said:
Do FCC not accept them on their trains? I got an email from Southern last week saying you can now use it at Blackfriars, but if you can't use it on FCC trains that seems a bit pointless!

It does make a lot of sense to have one company running all the services on the Brighton Mainline. Obviously the issue is that the company is Southern, who have done a good job in some respects but still have some way to go in areas like customer service.

No, I've been stopped by ticket inspectors on FCC trains a couple of times & been told that they can't check their validity afterwards I had this confirmed by FCC's twitter team.

Is a shame as I'd prefer to use a smartcard than a paper ticket, but the majority of the peak time trains that go from Burgess Hill to London are FCC services

Dan Aitch · May 23, 2014

The Large One said:
including the possibility of the £6.60 weekend ticket being scrapped.
Joy. Such unbridled joy.

This. It will effectively triple my home match travel costs if it happens.

Not a major issue if you're worried about the increased cost of a daily commute but a big impact on my 'no pay rise since 2008' austerity.

Not Andy Naylor · May 23, 2014

Wasn't the whole point of privatisation to provide competition and therefore keep prices down?

(Rather than make money for corporate shareholders as some cynics suggested at the time?)

Southover Street Seagull · May 23, 2014

Not Andy Naylor said:
Wasn't the whole point of privatisation to provide competition and therefore keep prices down?

(Rather than make money for corporate shareholders as some cynics suggested at the time?)

This!

kemptown kid · May 23, 2014

Southover Street Seagull said:
This!

And it's been such a roaring success, let's adopt the same approach to hospitals, schools, prisons, care services...What could possibly go wrong?

scoobiewhite · May 23, 2014

Hallelujah, I honestly can't think of anything worse in my working life than having to go to London on First Crapital Connect. I once remember a cock up on the PA and they used the late announcement along the lines of 'FCC ARE SORRY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE XYZ TRAIN TO BRIGHTON IS RUNNING APPROXIMATELY 0 MINUTES LATE, BLAH BLAH' when the train was on time. Made me chuckle as it sounded like they had given up on the message for the train being on time and had to use a workaround!

HawkTheSeagull · May 23, 2014

Best decision really.

First couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery and Govia were the least worst option and probably the best option for the taxpayer.

The cheaper "FCC only" tickets to London would have been scrapped even if First won as there would have been no competition. It will mean you can use the same company across most of the South and possibly Southern only fares all the way up to Bedford, Cambridge and Peterborough from the South Coast.

The name "Southern" will remain as well I'd have thought.

albionite · May 23, 2014

scoobiewhite said:
Hallelujah, I honestly can't think of anything worse in my working life than having to go to London on First Crapital Connect. I once remember a cock up on the PA and they used the late announcement along the lines of 'FCC ARE SORRY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE XYZ TRAIN TO BRIGHTON IS RUNNING APPROXIMATELY 0 MINUTES LATE, BLAH BLAH' when the train was on time. Made me chuckle as it sounded like they had given up on the message for the train being on time and had to use a workaround!

I doubt it will change that much Southern(Govia)used to run Thameslink before First won the franchise. Apart from all trains now being the same colour the service will remain the same.

Nadger · May 23, 2014

Hopefully positive but I bet they continue to use the class 319 sardine tins and just paint them up with Southern.

Those trains are an utter disgrace and FCC love the first off peak train from Brighton to be a four coach 319 I'm sure the staff at E̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶C̶r̶o̶y̶d̶o̶n̶ Scumvile like watching the EC train rats cause a daily fight trying to board the packed train

albionite · May 23, 2014

Nadger said:
Hopefully positive but I bet they continue to use the class 319 sardine tins and just paint them up with Southern.

Those trains are an utter disgrace and FCC love the first off peak train from Brighton to be a four coach 319 I'm sure the staff at E̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶C̶r̶o̶y̶d̶o̶n̶ Scumvile like watching the EC train rats cause a daily fight trying to board the packed train

They should be replaced with the new seimens trains. Hopefully Southern will also get rid of the 313s but not holding my breath that this will happen quick.

Bladders · May 23, 2014

New Class 387 on the way to replace the 319, which in turn will be cascaded to another region when the new Class 700 arrives in a couple of years.

Badger · May 23, 2014

albionite said:
They should be replaced with the new seimens trains. Hopefully Southern will also get rid of the 313s but not holding my breath that this will happen quick.

Replaced by 2018 according to signs at London Bridge. No doubt they'll have "teething problems" and get delayed.

HawkTheSeagull · May 23, 2014

Gatwick Express fleet to be replaced, as will the 319 trains which will start to be replaced this winter.

Southern 313 fleet should also be replaced.

Janbha · May 23, 2014

HawkTheSeagull said:
Southern 313 fleet should also be replaced.

With a horse and cart

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