Southern (train operating company)
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| Franchise(s): | Southern October 2000 - December 2009 |
| Main Region(s): | London, South East |
| Other Region(s): | None |
| Fleet size: | 289 |
| Stations: | 213 (161 operated) |
| Parent company: | Govia (Go-Ahead Group / Keolis) |
| Web site: | www.southernrailway.com |
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It is based around routes 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, who also own the neighbouring Southeastern. Officially named New Southern Railway Ltd, the company was at first branded as South Central following its takeover of services previously operated by Connex South Central in 2000, before being rebranded as Southern on 30 May 2004 in a deliberate recollection of pre-nationalisation Southern Railway, with a green roundel logo with ‘Southern’ written in yellow in a green bar.
In early 2006, Southern became the focus of attention from cyclists' groups, as a result of the strict enforcement of their policy prohibiting the use of ordinary cycles during peak hours.[1] Southern, and its sister company Southeastern, were both criticized in January 2007 for not wishing to introduce Oyster Pay As You Go on its London routes, stating it was not financially viable. Southern have now agreed to introduce Oyster following financial support being offered by Ken Livingstone.
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[edit] Routes
Details of each route (including maps and timetables) are available from Southern’s web site (see External links, below). The routes, shown in the order listed on the Southern website, are:
- Brighton Main Line - London (Victoria and London Bridge) to Brighton
- East Coastway - Brighton to Hastings (via Eastbourne)
- including Marsh Link Line - Hastings to Ashford International
- including "Seaford Flyer" Line - Brighton to Seaford (via Lewes)
- Lewes to Wivelsfield
- West Coastway - Brighton to Portsmouth and/or Southampton
- Arun Valley Line - Brighton Main Line to West Coastway (via Horsham)
- Redhill to Tonbridge Line - Redhill to Tonbridge
- North Downs Line - Redhill to Reigate on (peak only)
- Oxted Lines, divides at Hurst Green to
- 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 branch line - London (Victoria, Charing Cross and London Bridge) to Caterham (via the Brighton Main Line, diverging at Purley)
- Tattenham Corner - London (Victoria and London Bridge) to Tattenham Corner (via the Brighton Main Line, diverging at Purley)
- Victoria to East Croydon via;
- Crystal Palace and Balham
- Selhurst and Balham
- London Bridge to East Croydon via;
- South London Lines - Victoria to London Bridge
- "inner" via Peckham Rye
- "outer" via Crystal Palace
- West London Line - Clapham Junction to Watford Junction (via Willesden Junction)
[edit] Rolling Stock
[edit] Current fleet
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Routes operated | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||
| Class 09 |  |
Diesel locomotive | 27 | 43 | 2 | Shunter | 1959 |
| Class 171 Turbostar |  |
Diesel multiple unit | 100 | 160 | 15 | Oxted – Uckfield Brighton - Ashford Marshlink |
2003 – 2004 |
| Class 319 |  |
Electric multiple unit | 100 | 160 | 20 | London to Guildford (via West Croydon) London to Horsham (via Three Bridges) London to Horsham (via Dorking) London Suburban Routes |
1987 |
| Class 377 Electrostar |  |
Electric multiple unit | 100 | 160 | 182 | Entire Southern network | 2002 – 2004 |
| Class 455 |  |
Electric multiple unit | 75 | 120 | 46 | Suburban services from London Victoria and London Bridge | 1982 |
| Class 456 |  |
Electric multiple unit | 72 | 120 | 24 | South London Lines | 1990 |
[edit] Past fleet
| Class | Type | Built | Withdrawn | Notes |
| Class 205 Thumpers | diesel multiple units | 1957 - 1962 | 2004 | |
| Class 207 Thumpers | diesel multiple units | 1962 | 2004 | |
| Class 421 (4Cig) | electrical multiple units | 1964 - 1972 | late 2005 | |
| Class 423 (4Vep) | electrical multiple units | 1967 - 1974 | late 2005 |
[edit] Preserved Southern trains
Several former Southern locomotives and multiple units have been preserved.
- Two Class 09 shunters, nos. 09004 and 09025, have been preserved.
- Many of the Class 205 and 207 units have been preserved.
- One complete Class 421 unit (no. 1753) and one complete Class 423 unit (no. 3822) have been preserved. In addition several loose vehicles have also been saved.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
| Preceded by Connex South Central |
Operator of Southern franchise 2001-present |
Succeeded by N/A |
| Domestic: | Arriva Trains Wales - c2c - Central Trains1 - Chiltern Railways - First Capital Connect First Great Western - First ScotRail - Grand Central2 - GNER - Heathrow Connect Hull Trains - Island Line3 - Merseyrail - Midland Mainline1 - Northern Rail Northern Ireland Railways4 - 'one' - Silverlink1 - Southeastern - Southern South West Trains - TransPennine Express - Virgin Trains (VWC - VXC1) |
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| International: | Enterprise4 - Eurostar |
| Airport Link: | Gatwick Express - Heathrow Express - Stansted Express5 |
| Sleeper: | Caledonian Sleeper6 - Night Riviera7 |
| 1 Ends November 2007 - 2 Starts 20 May 2007 - 3 Operated by South West Trains 4 Operated on the Irish railway network - 5 Operated by 'one' - 6 Operated by First ScotRail 7 Operated by First Great Western |
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| Future passenger train operators and franchises in Great Britain | |
|---|---|
| New Franchises: | Cross Country1 - East Midlands1 - InterCity East Coast - London Overground1 West Midlands1 |
| Proposed open-access operators: |
Glasgow Trains2 - Grand Union2 - Humber & City2 - Wrexham & Shropshire3 |
| 1 Starts November 2007 - 2 Proposed - 3 Awaiting Approval | |
