Southern (train operating company)

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Image:377310.jpg
Franchise(s):	Southern October 2000 - December 2009
Main Region(s):	London, South East
Other Region(s):	None
Fleet size:	289
Stations:	213 (161 operated)
Parent company:	Govia (Go-Ahead Group / Keolis)
Web site:	www.southernrailway.com

Southern (New Southern Railway Ltd.) is the latest name of the train operating company that took over from Connex South Central on the routes to South London, Surrey, and Sussex from Victoria and London Bridge.

The company was originally known as South Central, but on 30 May 2004, the franchise was rebranded as Southern, in a deliberate recollection of pre-nationalisation Southern Railway, with a green roundel logo with ‘Southern’ written in yellow in a green bar.

Southern also operates the cross-London Watford Junction to Gatwick Airport / Brighton route via Kensington (Olympia) and Clapham Junction (the West London Line).

Like adjacent franchise Southeastern, Southern is owned by Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis.

In early 2006, Southern became the focus of attention from cyclists' groups, as a result of the strict enforcement of their policy prohibiting the use of ordinary cycles during peak hours.[1]

[edit] Routes

Details of each route (including maps and timetables) are available from Southern’s web site (see External links, below). The routes, shown in the order listed on the Southern website, are:

• Brighton Main Line: Brighton–London (various destinations)
• East Coastway (Brighton–Eastbourne/Hastings)
  • including Marsh Link Line (Hastings–Ashford international)
  • including "Seaford Flyer" Line (Brighton-Seaford via Newhaven) [2]
• West Coastway (Brighton–Portsmouth/Southampton)
• Arun Valley Line (London–Littlehampton/Bognor Regis/Portsmouth/Southampton)
• Redhill, Tonbridge, and Oxted Lines from London
• Caterham and Tattenham Corner Lines from London
• Sutton & Mole Valley Line London Victoria to Horsham and Epsom Downs
• London Bridge–Croydon via Sydenham (see South London Line)
• London Victoria and London Bridge–Croydon via Norbury
• London Victoria and London Bridge to Peckham Rye, Tulse Hill, and Crystal Palace (See South London Line)
• West London Line (Clapham Junction–Watford Junction)

[edit] Rolling Stock

[edit] Current fleet

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Routes operated	Built
			mph	km/h
Class 09	Image:09020 22-1-05 - Doncaster Wood Yard.JPG	Diesel locomotive	27	43	2	Shunter	1959
Class 171 Turbostar		Diesel multiple unit	100	160	15	Oxted – Uckfield Marsh Link Line	2003 – 2004
Class 319	Image:FCC train at Harpenden.JPG	Electric multiple unit	100	160	20	London to Guildford via West Croydon London to Horsham via Three Bridges	1987
Class 377 Electrostar		Electric multiple unit	100	160	182	Entire Southern network	2002 – 2004
Class 455	Image:455836-LN-19032005-1.jpg	Electric multiple unit	75	120	46	Services from London Victoria and London Bridge	1982
Class 456		Electric multiple unit	72	120	24	South London lines	1990

[edit] Past fleet

• Diesel multiple units
  • Class 205 ‘Thumpers’ - withdrawn 2004
  • Class 207 ‘Thumpers’ - withdrawn 2004
• Electrical multiple units
  • Class 421 4Cig - withdrawn late 2005
  • Class 423 4Vep - withdrawn late 2005

[edit] Preserved Southern trains

Several former Southern locomotives and multiple units have been preserved.

• Two Class 09 shunters, nos. 09004 and 09025, have been preserved.
• Many of the Class 205 and 207 units have been preserved.
• One complete Class 421 unit (no. 1753) and one complete Class 423 unit (no. 3822) have been preserved. In addition several loose vehicles have also been saved.

[edit] External links

• Southern website

[edit] See also

• Rail transport in the United Kingdom

Categories: Post-privatisation British railway companies | Go-Ahead Group companies