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Thameslink (train operating company)
Encyclopedia
Thameslink was a train operating company
in the United Kingdom
, run by Govia
(a joint venture between Go-Ahead Group
and Keolis
— previously Via-GTI, renamed following its acquisition by SNCF
). It operated the London
commuter railway line known by the same name
. When the state owned operation British Rail
was broken up, Govia was awarded the franchise from 2 March 1997 for seven years and a day. This period was subsequently extended by two years. Driver depots for the new company were established at the pre-existing locations of Bedford
on the London Midland region
, and Brighton
on the Southern region
. In 1999 an additional depot was created at Blackfriars in the city of London
.
Two services were run: the 'CityFlier' ran between Brighton
on the south coast through London to Bedford
, and the 'CityMetro' consisted of trains running from Luton
and St Albans
to London and to a loop connecting Streatham
with Sutton
and Wimbledon
. First Capital Connect still run services in this way today and show the services as such on their maps, but the services have lost their individual branding.
The Thameslink train livery was that of a navy blue, with a white-bordered yellow stripe running the length of the train below the windows.
When Govia’s franchise expired, the Thameslink route was combined with those WAGN services remaining after the creation of the ‘Greater Anglia’ franchise (now operated by National Express East Anglia), to form the new Thameslink/Great Northern group. This franchise has been awarded to First Capital Connect
, who took over operations on 1 April 2006. Govia were not invited to bid for the new franchise.
Train operating company
The term train operating company is used in the United Kingdom to describe the various businesses operating passenger trains on the railway system of Great Britain under the collective National Rail brand...
in the United Kingdom
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...
, run by 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...
(a joint venture between Go-Ahead Group
Go-Ahead Group
The Go-Ahead Group plc is a rail and bus operating company that was created following the privatisation of the UK's train and bus industries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-Early history:...
and Keolis
Keolis
Keolis is the largest private sector French transport group. It runs passenger railways, tramways, bus networks, funiculars, trolley buses, and airport services. The company, based in Paris, is majority owned by SNCF, the French state rail operator. AXA Private Equity and Caisse de dépôt et...
— previously Via-GTI, renamed following its acquisition by SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
). It operated 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...
commuter railway line known by the same name
Thameslink
Thameslink is a fifty-station main-line route in the British railway system running north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport. It opened as a through service in 1988 and by 1998 was severely overcrowded, carrying more than...
. When the state owned operation British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
was broken up, Govia was awarded the franchise from 2 March 1997 for seven years and a day. This period was subsequently extended by two years. Driver depots for the new company were established at the pre-existing locations of Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
on the London Midland region
London Midland Region of British Railways
The London Midland Region was one of the six regions created on the formation of the nationalised British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway lines in England and Wales. The region was managed first from buildings adjacent to Euston Station and later from Stanier...
, and 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...
on the Southern region
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...
. In 1999 an additional depot was created at Blackfriars in the city of 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...
.
Two services were run: the 'CityFlier' ran between 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...
on the south coast through London to Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, and the 'CityMetro' consisted of trains running from Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
and St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
to London and to a loop connecting Streatham
Streatham
Streatham is a district in Surrey, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
with Sutton
Sutton, London
Sutton is a large suburban town in southwest London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Sutton. It is located south-southwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. The town was connected to central London by...
and Wimbledon
Wimbledon station
Wimbledon station is a National Rail, London Underground, and Tramlink station located in Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton, and is the only London station that provides an interchange between rail, Underground, and Tramlink services...
. First Capital Connect still run services in this way today and show the services as such on their maps, but the services have lost their individual branding.
The Thameslink train livery was that of a navy blue, with a white-bordered yellow stripe running the length of the train below the windows.
When Govia’s franchise expired, the Thameslink route was combined with those WAGN services remaining after the creation of the ‘Greater Anglia’ franchise (now operated by National Express East Anglia), to form the new Thameslink/Great Northern group. This franchise has been awarded to First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006...
, who took over operations on 1 April 2006. Govia were not invited to bid for the new franchise.
Fleet
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km/h | ||||||
| Class 319 British Rail Class 319 The British Rail Class 319 dual-voltage electric multiple units were built by BREL York in two batches in 1987–88 and 1990. The trains were introduced for new north-south cross-London services from Bedford to Brighton, and since privatisation these services have been operated by Thameslink and... |
 |
electric multiple unit Electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages... |
100 | 160 | 74 | 1987 - 1988 1990 |
External links
- Internet archive of official site as at 30 March 2005
- First Capital Connect