Are Southern going to lose their franchise?

[bigc]

It expires in September 2009 and it hasn't been renewed as yet, are there murmurs of discontent?

I know an initial stumbling block was Ken's idea to have South London under the London Overground scheme, which would have involved augmenting their franchise, but I know Brown in the end baulked at the scheme, even prior to Ken's loss.

It would personally surprise me if they lost it, they seem fairly competent and a massive improvement on the headless chickens that were Connex. However they have had problems with those Dec07 timetable changes and their attempts to fill the gap left by SWT.

From a personal viewpoint, I also think they are winning few friends with their obstinate atittude towards operating Oyster on their route(same goes for sister company SouthEastern) and of course their attitude to the London/Brighton bikeride is bureaucratic in the extreme.

Despite all that they really have(whether through their investment or NR funds) made the Southern area far more respectable, it feels far less EMBARRASING to travel by train, as it did when the old slam doors wheezed in and the stations looked in a dire state.

 

[pasty]

I hope not. I'm a Brighton/London commuter and think on the whole they are pretty good.

 

[bigc]

I hope not. I'm a Brighton/London commuter and think on the whole they are pretty good.

I'd agree. I'm just surprised it hasn't been renewed by now, that's all.

 

[Uncle C]

I quite like their music.

 

[Beach Hut]

They will have to bid like everyone else and inherit the Gatwick Express from 22nd June this year.

I hope they do get it as they have done really well to improve everything.

 

[bigc]

They will have to bid like everyone else and inherit the Gatwick Express from 22nd June this year.

I hope they do get it as they have done really well to improve everything.

I thought that the DFT issued renewals before now though?

Indeed they are, but the changes to Gatwick Express service isn't happening till December, from what I know.

 

[pasty]

The Gatwick Express thing is a bit odd. I've heard it is supposed to be extended down to Brighton, but with only 2 lines from Haywards Heath all the way down, I'm not sure how it will fit in?

 

[bigc]

The Gatwick Express thing is a bit odd. I've heard it is supposed to be extended down to Brighton, but with only 2 lines from Haywards Heath all the way down, I'm not sure how it will fit in?

It will only be during rush hour.

 

[British Bulldog]

It would'nt bother me if they lost it, They're difficult to work with and they seem to think they run the bloody railway.

 

[bigc]

It would'nt bother me if they lost it, They're difficult to work with and they seem to think they run the bloody railway.

I was waiting for your response! Seeing as I knew you were an insider.

Who do you work for exactly?

 

[British Bulldog]

I was waiting for your response! Seeing as I knew you were an insider.

Who do you work for exactly?

Network rail.

 

[Strike]

Trains are a massive improvement compared to earlier this decade. Got mostly nice modern trains, cleaner stations. Would surprise me if they lost francise.

 

[bigc]

Network rail.

Ahhh, that's what I thought. Did that mean you had to work for the failure that was railtrack?

 

[bigc]

Trains are a massive improvement compared to earlier this decade. Got mostly nice modern trains, cleaner stations. Would surprise me if they lost francise.

Trains isnt their remit though and actually Connex ordered the 377s I think, and NR facilitated the rollout thanks to power upgrades?

They may be responsible for the smarter stations though! Sounds small but I think it makes a big difference, far more pleasant environment.

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

f*** me if some tossers like FCC get it then gawd help us all.

 

[Man of Harveys]

The Southern service seems fine - it's Thameslink/FCC's management that want shooting at dawn: grotty, old trains; no guards, just hoards of predatory ticket inspectors; no announcements when things screw up; services cancelled at the drop of a hat etc etc. They've actually got marginally better but from the level of incompetence they showed when they took over, that wasn't going to be that difficult.

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

The Southern service seems fine - it's Thameslink/FCC's management that want shooting at dawn: grotty, old trains; no guards, just hoards of predatory ticket inspectors; no announcements when things screw up; services cancelled at the drop of a hat etc etc. They've actually got marginally better but from the level of incompetence they showed when they took over, that wasn't going to be that difficult.

Thats what I wanted to say MOH!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

All I want from Southern is to add an extra carriage to my train, so that a large amount of people are NOT forced to stand for much of thye journey. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK? The platforms can cope with a four carriage train, but insist on a three carriage train.

 

[bigc]

f*** me if some tossers like FCC get it then gawd help us all.

I'm hoping they are stripped of their FCC franchise, after Thameslink2000 progresses, it will be a major franchise(for example, Brighton to Cambridge through routes and beyond) and them at the wheel could be a huge wasted opportunity for such an enhanced service(if you include London Bridge upgrade works).

 

[bigc]

All I want from Southern is to add an extra carriage to my train, so that a large amount of people are NOT forced to stand for much of thye journey. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK? The platforms can cope with a four carriage train, but insist on a three carriage train.

Which route is it? I assume they don't have enough carriages?

Is it coastway west services...