Govia wont have 3 for long though, as Southern is due to merge with Thameslink. As a commuter on the Uckfield line I'd be delighted if Govia got it, as long as they use the Southern management on it. They have managed to prove something I have always stated which was if you ran a reliable serivce on the Uckfield line you'd get the passengers.
Mind you there is a slight worry about the merger of Sourthen and Thameslink franchises as that will leave the Uckfield Line out on a limb being unable to take Thameslink stock, so will it be adversely affected.
I do wonder how Govia manage to run Sourthern so well and South Eastern so badly, although I guess the real answer is it depends what issues get thrown at you. All franchisees seem to be equally bad at keeping passengers informed when it goes wrong.
I reckon look for a very innovative bid from them with a partnership scheme to electrify both the Uckfield and Marshlink lines to resolve the rolling stock shortages.
New Rolling stock to replace the 442s, 455s and 313s
... It would I imagine be very expensive for the new Thameslink service to operate south of London Bridge with Govia still in charge of Southern.
New Rolling stock to replace the 442s, 455s and 313s
Guards are non-existent on FCC GN, and I'm 99.9% certain it's the same with the TL route.Personally i'd like Stagecoach to win. They seem to value their guards more so than Govia.
Guards are non-existent on FCC GN, and I'm 99.9% certain it's the same with the TL route.
Thameslink has been DOO for some time. Like 30yrs.
But there are conductors currently on (some of) the Horsham services from London Bridge, this service going on to TL, will they still be required?
Probably- going DOO requires difficult and expensive negotiation. And obviously putting people out of jobs.
And going through the unions too. Slow process.