Southeastern (train operating company, 2006–2021)
File:South Eastern Trains Logo.gif | |
Franchise(s) | Integrated Kent Franchise 1st April 2006 – 31st March 2014 |
---|---|
Main region(s) | Greater London |
Other region(s) | Kent, East Sussex |
Fleet size | approx. 400 |
Stations called at | 178 |
Parent company | Govia (Go-Ahead Group/Keolis) |
Other | |
Website | www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/ |
Southeastern is a train operating company that began operations in south-east England on 1 April 2006, replacing the former publicly-owned operator South Eastern Trains. They serve Kent, parts of East Sussex, and operate south-east London commuter routes. The London termini of their services are Charing Cross, Blackfriars, Cannon Street, and Victoria. Southeastern operate on 773 miles (1237 km) of track, with 178 stations. 82% of their train services run into London.
The company’s formal name, under which they mounted their bid for the franchise, is London and South Eastern Railway. They are continuing to use the logo of the preceding company, and appear not to have any present plans to change the livery of their trains, which their predecessors inherited in turn from Connex South Eastern.
Southeastern is owned by Govia, who also operate the South Central franchise (which overlaps with Southeastern in some areas) under the name Southern.
Franchise
Since privatisation the franchise to run trains on the line has passed hands three times. The first company to win the franchise in 1996 was Connex, which operated under the name Connex South Eastern. The company gained bad publicty and their franchise was cut short in 2003. On 21st November 2003 train services were taken over by South Eastern Trains, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Strategic Rail Authority till an alternative bidder could be found.
Train routes
Main lines
From London termini (Victoria, London Bridge, Waterloo East, Charing Cross, Blackfriars, and Cannon Street) unless otherwise stated;
- North Kent Line: services via Dartford to Gillingham
- Chatham Main Line: services via Bromley South and Chatham, dividing at Faversham to Ramsgate and Dover
- Ashford via Maidstone East Line
- Ashford via Sevenoaks (see London to Ashford to Dover Line)
- Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) line
- Kent Coast Line: Ashford to Ramsgate (via Folkestone and Dover)
- Ashford via Croydon East and Redhill — uses part of the Brighton Main Line
- Hastings Line (Hastings via Tunbridge Wells)
- London Bridge to Tunbridge Wells (via Redhill and East Croydon) — uses part of the Brighton Main Line
- Horsham to Tunbridge Wells (via Gatwick and Redhill) — uses part of the Brighton Main Line
Suburban lines
The suburban services run to:
- Sevenoaks: two services — one via Grove Park, and one via Bromley South
- Hayes line
- Mid-Kent Line
- Orpington via Lewisham and via Bromley South
- Dartford via: North Kent Line, the Bexleyheath Line, and the Dartford Loop Line
- Bromley North Line
Rural lines
- Medway Valley Line, some services extend to Tonbridge, and occasionally to Gatwick Airport
- Sheerness Line
Rolling stock
Southeastern operate a fleet of about four hundred trains, all of which are electrical multiple units.
Class | Top speed | Number | Cars per set | Seat layout | Number of seats | Routes operated | Built | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph | km/h | |||||||
Class 375/3 Electrostar Express | 100 | 160 | 10 | 3 | 2+2 | 176 seats (164 std + 12 first) | Entire network | 2001-2002 |
Class 375/6 Electrostar Express | 100 | 160 | 30 | 4 | 2+2 | 242 seats (218 std + 24 first) | Entire network | 1999-2001 |
Class 375/7 Electrostar Express | 100 | 160 | 15 | 4 | 2+2 | 242 seats (218 std + 24 first) | Entire network | 2001-2002 |
Class 375/8 Electrostar Express | 100 | 160 | 30 | 4 | 2+2 | 242 seats (218 std + 24 first) | Entire network | 2004-2005 |
Class 375/9 Electrostar Outer suburban | 100 | 160 | 27 | 4 | 2+3 | 277 seats (253 std + 24 first) | Entire network | 2003-2004 |
Class 376 Suburban Electrostar | 75 | 120 | 36 | 5 | 2+2 | 344 seats (216 std + 12 tip-up + 116 perch) | Metro routes | 2004-2005 |
Class 465 Networker | 75 | 120 | 147 | 4 | ? | ? | Non-Metro routes | ? |
Class 466 Networker | 75 | 120 | 43 | 2 | ? | ? | Non-Metro routes | ? |
Class 508 | 75 | 120 | 12 | 3 | ? | ? | Medway Valley Line and extension on to Tonbridge, and Gatwick Airport / Horsham, Sheerness Line | ? |
Future expansion
Southeastern will operate the high-speed domestic services (including the Olympic Javelin service that is to run during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London) that will run from London St Pancras to the coast on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link following the line’s completion. The new company have made a point of advertising part-owner SNCF’s experience operating and integrated high-speed train services on the French TGV network.
A fleet of twenty-eight six-carriage Shinkansen-derived high-speed ‘A-trains’ have already been ordered from Hitachi for this route. [1] This is Hitachi’s first train sale in Britain. They will be known as British Rail Class 395 when in service.
High-speed services are expected to begin in December 2008, but the first four trains are to be delivered in 2007 for testing and driver training. [2]
The first train will be named after Dame Kelly Holmes, a British gold-medal athlete, with further trains to be named after British personalities associated with speed.
See also
- Olympic Javelin
- South Eastern Trains
- Connex South Eastern
- Network SouthEast
- Southern Region of British Railways
- Southern Railway
- South Eastern and Chatham Railway
- South Eastern Railway
- London, Chatham and Dover Railway
External links
- Southeastern official web site
- alwaystouchout.com on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (includes information about the planned domestic services)