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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Govia wins Thameslink rail franchise | Govia wins Thameslink rail franchise |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The franchise to run the expanded Thameslink rail network has been awarded to Govia Thameslink, a joint venture majority-owned by Go-Ahead. | The franchise to run the expanded Thameslink rail network has been awarded to Govia Thameslink, a joint venture majority-owned by Go-Ahead. |
| The new Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise will run for seven years from this September. | The new Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise will run for seven years from this September. |
| The rail franchise is the largest in the UK in terms of passenger numbers, trains, revenue, and staff. | The rail franchise is the largest in the UK in terms of passenger numbers, trains, revenue, and staff. |
| The government said the franchise would open new routes across London and improve commuter services. | The government said the franchise would open new routes across London and improve commuter services. |
| It added that nearly 1,400 extra carriages would be supplied by the end of 2018, increasing capacity by 50% during the peak morning rush-hour into central London. | It added that nearly 1,400 extra carriages would be supplied by the end of 2018, increasing capacity by 50% during the peak morning rush-hour into central London. |
| Investment | Investment |
| The newly-created TSGN franchise replaces the existing Thameslink and Great Northern franchise - more familiar to passengers as First Capital Connect - and the South Central franchise, which includes Southern and Gatwick Express services. | The newly-created TSGN franchise replaces the existing Thameslink and Great Northern franchise - more familiar to passengers as First Capital Connect - and the South Central franchise, which includes Southern and Gatwick Express services. |
| Govia - which is 65%-owned by Go-Ahead and 35%-owned by French firm Keolis - already runs Southern Railways, London Midland and South Eastern train services, and previously ran Thameslink between March 1997 and March 2006. | Govia - which is 65%-owned by Go-Ahead and 35%-owned by French firm Keolis - already runs Southern Railways, London Midland and South Eastern train services, and previously ran Thameslink between March 1997 and March 2006. |
| First Group, which has been running Thameslink services since 2006, had also bid for the franchise. | First Group, which has been running Thameslink services since 2006, had also bid for the franchise. |
| First Group said it was disappointed not to be awarded the contract. Tim O'Toole, FirstGroup's chief executive, said "We submitted a strong bid which would have delivered high quality services for passengers, value for taxpayers and an economic return for shareholders." | First Group said it was disappointed not to be awarded the contract. Tim O'Toole, FirstGroup's chief executive, said "We submitted a strong bid which would have delivered high quality services for passengers, value for taxpayers and an economic return for shareholders." |
| The government said the TSGN franchise would form a key part in delivering its £6.5bn Thameslink investment programme. | The government said the TSGN franchise would form a key part in delivering its £6.5bn Thameslink investment programme. |
| Up to 24 trains per hour will travel in each direction along the Thameslink route after the investment programme is completed. | Up to 24 trains per hour will travel in each direction along the Thameslink route after the investment programme is completed. |
| New tunnels will link Peterborough and Cambridge to the existing Thameslink route, providing greater access across London via St Pancras to Gatwick and Brighton. | New tunnels will link Peterborough and Cambridge to the existing Thameslink route, providing greater access across London via St Pancras to Gatwick and Brighton. |
| Services to destinations along the Thameslink route including Brighton, Kings Lynn, Peterborough, Cambridge, and Gatwick Airport will be improved. | Services to destinations along the Thameslink route including Brighton, Kings Lynn, Peterborough, Cambridge, and Gatwick Airport will be improved. |
| A small number of services and stations will also transfer from the Govia's Southeastern franchise into the new TSGN franchise in December 2014. | A small number of services and stations will also transfer from the Govia's Southeastern franchise into the new TSGN franchise in December 2014. |
| 'Symbolic' moment | 'Symbolic' moment |
| The DfT said Govia would invest significantly in improving station facilities including free wi-fi at more than 100 stations, better retail and catering facilities and improvements to customer information systems. | The DfT said Govia would invest significantly in improving station facilities including free wi-fi at more than 100 stations, better retail and catering facilities and improvements to customer information systems. |
| David Leam, head of infrastructure at business group London First, said the new franchise would greatly improve journeys on key north-south routes across London. | David Leam, head of infrastructure at business group London First, said the new franchise would greatly improve journeys on key north-south routes across London. |
| He added: "As the first franchise let since the West Coast Mainline debacle this is also an important moment symbolically for the government. | He added: "As the first franchise let since the West Coast Mainline debacle this is also an important moment symbolically for the government. |
| "Passengers and taxpayers have suffered as a result of the delayed franchising programme so it's good news all round that it's now back on track." | "Passengers and taxpayers have suffered as a result of the delayed franchising programme so it's good news all round that it's now back on track." |
| New contract | New contract |
| The new franchise is being let as a management contract where ticket revenues are passed directly to the government rather than retained by Govia, the train company said. | The new franchise is being let as a management contract where ticket revenues are passed directly to the government rather than retained by Govia, the train company said. |
| It is the first time a rail franchise has been awarded under such terms. | It is the first time a rail franchise has been awarded under such terms. |
| A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesman said train fare and season ticket pricing policy would be unaffected. | |
| The government will pay £8.9bn to Govia over the course of the seven year franchise with the government expecting to receive around £12.4bn back in ticket sales from Govia by the end of the franchise. | The government will pay £8.9bn to Govia over the course of the seven year franchise with the government expecting to receive around £12.4bn back in ticket sales from Govia by the end of the franchise. |
| The DfT spokesman said the new contract reduced the chances of rail operators "handing back the keys" to the government as happened with the East Coast mainline. | The DfT spokesman said the new contract reduced the chances of rail operators "handing back the keys" to the government as happened with the East Coast mainline. |