The new Thameslink franchise

[Beeyar Wunby]

Govia have started to release information to the industry about the new franchise which is due to take over from First Capital Connect in mid September.

Firstly though - it's not actually a Franchise. DfT are calling it a contract, which is due to the fact that the arrangement is so complicated with the Southern joining the franchise later on that they say it's not possible to predict what will happen and therefore the 'franchisee' won't be subject to financial risk in the usual way.

Anyhoo, the new TOC will be calling itself a number of things to start with; Govia Thameslink for the cross-London services, GN for for Kings Cross & Moorgate services, and Southern.

Stockwise, there are longterm plans to replace the archaic 313 fleet of the Moorgate/Hertford Loop service with 150 shiny new vehicles (25 x 6 car) units and cascade the old units northwards. This should be by 2018.

Gatwick Express will receive 108 new vehicles (27 x 4) designed specifically for the service, and including free WiFi.

Class 377s will be introduced to the Kings Lynn route by May 2017 - this will provide 2 trains per hour between Kings Cross and Kings Lynn.

1140 new Siemens class 700 vehicles for the Thameslink routes (2016 - 2018)

Introduction of Cambridge to Brighton service, possibility of Peterborough to Horsham service.

When the new 700 series fleet is fully operating it should then be possible to cascade the 317, 319 & 321 fleets to more needy TOCs.

It's early days and these are outline plans. Things will probably change several times before the 700s come into service fully in 2018 (or later), but there's no doubt that the future will be interesting.