Are Southern going to lose their franchise?

[Beach Hut]

With Virgo's Haircut saying FCC not going to use London Bridge from Dec08 anymore, I assume that means they are going via Tulse/Herne Hill all the time...

That will be fun for all the commuters up to St Pancras and beyond.

Deary me, that takes forever......................

 

[Leekbrookgull]

bigc. It was Southern. Have used FCC,and they are not my preferred choice. In compared to Southern, FCC have alot to do.

 

[bigc]

Deary me, that takes forever......................

Well I assume that is what they will be doing, if they need to build a new viaduct over Borough Market, the trains won't be able to use that path into Blackfriars and it would explain why FCC will no longer be stopping at L.Bridge..

I guess that will be even LESS reason to use FCC then. Would be far faster to get the tube from Vic or even L.Bridge via Southern route.

 

[p.o.g]

southern

i am a driver for southern and also a palace fan,so i dont care what type of service you get.
If i see any of you lot ,i wouldnt stop anyway

 

[British Bulldog]

i am a driver for southern and also a palace fan,
If i see any of you lot ,i wouldnt stop anyway

No change there for southern drivers then.

 

[Ernest]

Connex were actually quite good to work for and gave me no grief

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Correct and day tickets are simplified from September

Does this mean the special offers of 2 for 1 or 4 for 2 disappear ? . Day tickets are a nightmare at the moment as some destinations are available as a Cheap Day and others as a Standard Saver when asking for a return.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I like Southern a lot. Their trains are comfortable, warm in Winter and air-conned in Summer. The toilets are a bit too hi-tech for their own good - and the bloke who designed the emergency stop button to be right next to the flusher deserves to die horribly - but overall they've been grand. Think most regular travellers would agree. That FCC third-world cattle truck company on the the other hand...

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

The idea of turning up at the train station to buy a ticket which will be the cheapest option for the journey being taken is quite good in theory but will it work in practice ? The ticket office staff at Grimsby Town are very mediocre to say the least , anything slightly complicated seems to upset them. If we are travelling down to Brighton for a holiday, I always go to the ticket office at Cleethorpes as they know how to do the job properly with a great customer service attitude.

 

[BensGrandad]

Is it too much to expect the automated ticket machines to read the information that is put into it and issue the cheapest available ticket. or is there a difference between companies when travelling from Brighton to London. As I said earlier I do not use trains as I cannot afford them.

 

[British Bulldog]

Next month Southern take over they Gatwick Express, and in December there are massive changes to the Brighton main line. In addition to the Brighton to Victoria expresses, there will 2 trains per hour to London Bridge, operated by Southern, not FCC. Also in the peak some Gatwick Express services will be extended to Brighton to ease passenger numbers on the 0716, 0733 and 0747 commuter services.

I dont suppose you know whether there's any plans to do away with the half hourly split/attachment on the Eastbourne/Littlehampton/Victoria services at Haywards Heath do you? Those services are a nightmare and regularly bring Hayward Heath to a grinding halt when there's problems on the East or West coast line.

 

[Ernest]

I dont suppose you know whether there's any plans to do away with the half hourly split/attachment on the Eastbourne/Littlehampton/Victoria services at Haywards Heath do you? Those services are a nightmare and regularly bring Hayward Heath to a grinding halt when there's problems on the East or West coast line.

Don't ask VH he knows NOTHING

 

[British Bulldog]

Don't ask VH he knows NOTHING

Do you know then Ernest? I have to ask these things because they tend not to let us in on these things until a couple of hours before the new service starts.

 

[bigc]

Is it too much to expect the automated ticket machines to read the information that is put into it and issue the cheapest available ticket. or is there a difference between companies when travelling from Brighton to London. As I said earlier I do not use trains as I cannot afford them.

Well there is FCC and Southern to get to London from Brighton, now I think, FCC is marginally cheaper but isn't worth it.

Automated ticket machines don't give the cheapest tickets at the moment, as far as I'm aware? I think that may be changing though.

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

Whatever they do, they HAVE to get more REASONABLE about carrying BIKES.

Idiots.

 

[bigc]

Whatever they do, they HAVE to get more REASONABLE about carrying BIKES.

Idiots.

That's what I was referencing in my murmurs of discontent..

 

[KNC]

Connex were actually quite good to work for and gave me no grief

Oh yes, you looked SOOOO fetching in that lovely blue & yellow combination.

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

The consultation is OPEN.

Read this: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/southcentralfranchise/southcentralfranchisecons.pdf

And email your response to southcentral@dft.gsi.gov.uk before 14th August.