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Southern
Govia Ltd
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Southern
expired franchise
replaced
< Southern
was replaced by
Govia Thameslink Railway >
start date
20 September 2009
end date
26 July 2015
owned by
Govia Ltd
legal title
Southern Railway Limited
description
The first South Central franchise operated by Govia succeeded Connex South Central after that contract had been terminated prematurely in 2001, and Govia was awarded this second term from 2009. Southern operated the principal main line services between London and Brighton as well as local routes, and had also absorbed the previously separate Gatwick Express franchise on 22 June 2008.
The Department for Transport said on 19 December 2011 that the Southern franchise would not be let separately again but combined with Thameslink. Govia Thameslink Railway duly absorbed Southern, including Gatwick Express, on 26 July 2015, but GTR has retained both brands.
service area
Commuter, regional and local services between London Victoria/London Bridge, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport and Brighton, local and regional Sussex Coast services to Eastbourne, Ashford, Seaford, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Portsmouth Harbour and Southampton Central, plus inner south London Metro routes and South Croydon-Clapham Junction-Watford Junction-Milton Keynes Central.
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