Connex South CentralCompanies House extract company # 3010919 New Southern Railway Limited formerly Connex South Central Limited formerly Network SouthCentral Limited was a British train operating company owned by Connex that operated the Network SouthCentral franchise from 26 May 1996 until 12 October 1996 and the South Central franchise from 13 October 1996 until 25 August 2001.
History On 26 May 1996, Connex commenced operating the Network SouthCentral franchise."GCEA confirmed as NSC winner" Rail Privatisation News issue 27 4 April 1996 page 4 Later on 13 October 1996 Connex rebranded the franchise South Central and introduced a white, yellow and blue livery.
The operator was criticised for poor customer service (on average one in five Connex trains was delayed)"Connex loses rail franchise" BBC News 24 October 2000 and for using old slam-door trains, rather than spend any money on buying modern sliding-door rolling stock built to higher safety standards (though Connex ordered new trains for Connex South Eastern). This widespread disgust at filthy trains and widespread delays caused criticism of Connex, but it was poor financial management that ultimately caused Connex to lose the franchise.
In March 2000 the Strategic Rail Authority announced its intention to relet the franchise, with Connex and Govia the shortlisted bidders.South Central Franchise Shadow Strategic Rail Authority 10 October 2000Six Companies Shortlisted for First Franchise Replacement Round Shadow Strategic Rail Authority 14 March 2000
On 24 October 2000 the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority announced that Govia had been awarded the franchise and would operate it from 2003. Govia negotiated a deal with Connex to buy out the remainder of its franchise with the transaction completed in August 2001.Acquisition of Connex South Central Limited by Govia Limited Go-Ahead Group 30 May 2001Completion of Acquisition of South Central Franchise Go-Ahead Group 28 August 2001South Central Limited Annual Accounts 29 June 2002
Services Connex South Central ran passenger services from London Charing Cross, London Bridge and London Victoria to Beckenham Junction, Epsom Downs, East Grinstead, Uckfield, Caterham, Tattenham Corner, Horsham, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Brighton, Eastbourne and Ore.
It also ran services between Hastings and Ashford, Brighton and Hastings, Brighton, Newhaven Marine and Seaford and Brighton and Southampton as well as South London suburban services serving Crystal Palace, Sutton and West Croydon.
Services between West Croydon and Wimbledon, which were operated by Connex South Central following privatisation, ceased in 1997. The line was subsequently converted for Tramlink operation.
On 2 June 1997 Connex South Central introduced a new service from Gatwick Airport to Rugby via the West London and West Coast lines using Class 319s. In December 2000 it was curtailed to Watford Junction but extended southwards to Brighton.Class 319 Kent Rail
Rolling stock
Connex South Central inherited a wide fleet of 'slam' and sliding door diesel electric and electric multiple units. The slam-door units were not replaced under Connex, but were all later withdrawn after South Central (later rebranded Southern) took over.
Connex South Central's fleet was maintained at Brighton Lovers Walk and Selhurst depots.
Class Image Type Number Carriages Built 205 DEMU 10 2 or 3 1957–1962 207 DEMU 4 3 1962 319 EMU 20 4 1987–1988 411 EMU 3 4 1956–1963 421 EMU 107 4 1964–1972 423 EMU 59 4 1967–1974 455 EMU 46 4 1982–1985 456 EMU 24 2 1990–1991
References
External links
Connex website