Rail passengers on track for better services after DfT ink deal with Govia
12 Jun 2014 03:59 PM
Govia Thameslink Railway
Limited to run Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern
franchise.
The Department for Transport has
today (12 June 2014) confirmed it has officially signed a
contract with Govia Thameslink Railway Limited to run the new Thameslink,
Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise.
The 7 year contract will help
transform passenger services across London and the south east, delivering more
services and seats, faster journeys and better connections for millions of
passengers.
Rail Minister Stephen Hammond
said:
The signing of this deal is
great news for passengers and testament to the hard work of the department and
the team at Govia. Once operational the new service will transform rail travel
to scores of destinations across London and the south east, benefitting
millions of passengers and driving forward our economy.
The TSGN franchise is the largest ever let in terms of
passenger numbers, serving scores of destinations across the region,
including:
- Brighton
- King’s
Lynn
- Peterborough
- Cambridge
- Bedford
- Luton
- Gatwick
Airport
- Moorgate
Govia will introduce nearly
1,400 new electric carriages across the network, providing 50% more capacity
and 10,000 extra seats every weekday into central London during the morning
peak by the end of 2018, and delivering quicker, cleaner and more reliable
journeys for passengers and businesses.
The franchise will also play a
crucial role in delivering the government’s £6.5 billion Thameslink
programme – a major programme of infrastructure work that is
helping create 8,000 jobs and will allow 24 trains per hour to travel in each
direction from Blackfriars to St Pancras. New tunnels will link Peterborough
and Cambridge to the existing Thameslink route providing easy access across
London via St Pancras to Gatwick and Brighton.
The signing of the contract
followed a formal standstill period after the department announced its intention to award the
contract on 23 May 2014.
More about TSGN and
the rail franchising system
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