Connex South Central

Connex South Central[1] was a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by Connex that operated the South Central franchise from 26 May 1996 until 25 August 2001.

Connex South Central
Class 319 at Clapham Junction in 2003
Overview
Franchise(s)South Central
26 May 1996 – 25 August 2001
Main region(s)South
Other region(s)London, South East
Parent companyConnex
Reporting markCX
PredecessorNetwork SouthCentral
SuccessorSouthern

History

On 26 May 1996, Connex commenced operating the Network SouthCentral franchise.[2][3] Later on 13 October 1996 Connex rebranded the franchise Connex South Central and introduced a white, yellow and blue livery.[4]

The operator was criticised for poor customer service (on average one in five Connex trains was delayed)[5] 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.[5]

In March 2000 the Strategic Rail Authority announced its intention to relet the franchise, with Connex and Govia the shortlisted bidders.[6][7]

On 24 October 2000 the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority announced that Govia had been awarded the franchise and would operate it from 2003.[5] Govia negotiated a deal with Connex to buy out the remainder of its franchise with the transaction completed in August 2001.[8][9][10][11]

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.[12]

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.[13] In December 2000 it was curtailed to Watford Junction but extended southwards to Brighton.[14]

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.

ClassImageTypeNumberCarriagesBuilt
205DEMU102 or 31957–1962
207DEMU431962
319EMU2041987–1988
411EMU341956–1963
421EMU10741964–1972
423EMU5941967–1974
455EMU4641982–1985
456EMU2421990–1991

References
  1. Companies House extract company # 3010919 Archived 13 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine New Southern Railway Limited formerly Connex South Central Limited formerly Network SouthCentral Limited
  2. "GCEA confirmed as NSC winner" Rail Privatisation News issue 27 4 April 1996 page 4
  3. "Network SouthCentral sold to French Group". The Railway Magazine. No. 1142. June 1996. p. 6.
  4. "A new brand and livery for Connex's Network SouthCentral fleet". Rail Magazine. No. 289. 9 October 1996. p. 11.
  5. "Connex loses rail franchise" Archived 25 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine BBC News 24 October 2000
  6. South Central Franchise Archived 3 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine Shadow Strategic Rail Authority 10 October 2000
  7. Six Companies Shortlisted for First Franchise Replacement Round Archived 16 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Shadow Strategic Rail Authority 14 March 2000
  8. Acquisition of Connex South Central Limited by Govia Limited Go-Ahead Group 30 May 2001
  9. Completion of Acquisition of South Central Franchise Go-Ahead Group 28 August 2001
  10. "Govia Southern Central goes into business". The Railway Magazine. No. 1206. October 2001. p. 12.
  11. South Central Limited Annual Accounts 29 June 2002
  12. "Croydon Tramlink". TheTrams.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  13. "Connex Makes a Rugby Connection". Rail Express. No. 15 August 1997. p. 7.
  14. Class 319 Archived 20 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Kent Rail
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