Connex South Central
Encyclopedia
Connex South Central was a short-lived train operating company in the United Kingdom
. It was owned by the Connex Group, and operated under the Connex brand between October 1996 until mid-2001.
Passenger train
s served Surrey
, Sussex
and parts of Hampshire
and Kent
. The network was previously part of the Southern Region of British Railways
and later Network SouthEast
. Before privatisation, the part of Network SouthEast which was to become Connex South Central was known as Network SouthCentral. Services used the London
termini of Victoria and London Bridge
.
The Connex South Central rolling stock was a mixture of 30 year old Southern region 'Slam Door' EMU stock, BREL Electric Multiple units of classes 455, 456 and 319. Class 205 and 207 'Thumper' DeMUs operated the non electrified Uckfield
and Marshlink routes.
In 1997 a new service from Gatwick Airport
to Rugby
began, via the West Coast Main Line
, using class 319 dual-voltage rolling stock. It was later curtailed to Watford Junction in the early 2000s, but extended southwards to Brighton
.
The franchise was originally due to run until 2006, but Connex South Central lost the franchise in October 2000. It was later awarded to Govia
, who rebranded the line as South Central then as Southern
in 2004.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was owned by the Connex Group, and operated under the Connex brand between October 1996 until mid-2001.
Passenger train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
s served Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
and parts of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
and Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. The network was previously part of the Southern Region of British Railways
Southern Region of British Railways
The Southern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992. The region covered south London, southern England and the south coast, including the busy commuter belt areas of Kent, Sussex...
and later Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast was one of three passenger sectors of British Rail created in 1982. NSE principally operated commuter trains in the London area and inter-urban services in densely populated South East England, although the network reached as far west as Exeter...
. Before privatisation, the part of Network SouthEast which was to become Connex South Central was known as Network SouthCentral. Services used the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
termini of Victoria and London Bridge
London Bridge station
London Bridge railway station is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex in the London Borough of Southwark, occupying a large area on two levels immediately south-east of London Bridge and 1.6 miles east of Charing Cross. It is one of the oldest railway stations in the...
.
The Connex South Central rolling stock was a mixture of 30 year old Southern region 'Slam Door' EMU stock, BREL Electric Multiple units of classes 455, 456 and 319. Class 205 and 207 'Thumper' DeMUs operated the non electrified Uckfield
Uckfield
-Development:The local Tesco has proposed the redevelopment of the central town area as has the town council. The Hub has recently been completed, having been acquired for an unknown figure, presumed to be about half a million pounds...
and Marshlink routes.
In 1997 a new service from Gatwick Airport
London Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is located 3.1 miles north of the centre of Crawley, West Sussex, and south of Central London. Previously known as London Gatwick,In 2010, the name changed from London Gatwick Airport to Gatwick Airport...
to Rugby
Rugby railway station
Rugby railway station serves the town of Rugby in Warwickshire, England. It opened during the Victorian era, in 1885, replacing earlier stations situated a little further west...
began, via the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
, using class 319 dual-voltage rolling stock. It was later curtailed to Watford Junction in the early 2000s, but extended southwards to Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
.
The franchise was originally due to run until 2006, but Connex South Central lost the franchise in October 2000. It was later awarded to Govia
Govia
Govia is a transport company based in the United Kingdom. A joint venture between Go-Ahead and Keolis SA it is a key operator of commuter services in London, the South East and on the West Coast Main Line...
, who rebranded the line as South Central then as Southern
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
in 2004.
See also
- The NavigatorsThe Navigators (film)The Navigators is a 2001 British film directed by Ken Loach with screenplay by Rob Dawber.It tells the story of the reactions of five Sheffield rail workers to the privatisation of the railway maintenance organisation for which they all work, and the consequences for them...
, a film by Ken LoachKen LoachKenneth "Ken" Loach is a Palme D'Or winning English film and television director.He is known for his naturalistic, social realist directing style and for his socialist beliefs, which are evident in his film treatment of social issues such as homelessness , labour rights and child abuse at the...
about railway privatisation