Editing Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway) (section)

==History==
As part of the wider [[Privatisation of British Rail|privatisation]] of the state owned railway operator [[British Rail]] in the 1990s, [[Connex South Central]] was awarded the [[Network SouthCentral]] franchise by the [[Director of Passenger Rail Franchising]]. Operations commenced on 26 May 1996.

In March 2000, the Shadow [[Strategic Rail Authority]] (SSRA) announced its intention to relet the franchise from May 2003; both [[Veolia Transport|Connex]] and [[Govia]] were shortlisted.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=200010100700142543S |title = South Central rail franchise Due this Month |publisher = Shadow Strategic Rail Authority |date = 10 October 2000 |access-date = 27 September 2012 |archive-date = 3 November 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131103093106/http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=200010100700142543S |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.investegate.co.uk/article.aspx?id=200003141002582018H |title = Six Companies Shortlisted for First Franchise Replacement Round |publisher= Shadow Strategic Rail Authority |date = 14 March 2000 |access-date = 9 November 2012 |archive-date = 16 October 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131016111542/http://www.investegate.co.uk/article.aspx?id=200003141002582018H |url-status = live }}</ref> In October 2000, the SSRA announced that Govia had been awarded the franchise and would operate it from May 2003.<ref name="connex">{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/988016.stm |date = 24 October 2000 |access-date = 11 June 2009 |title = Connex loses rail franchise |publisher = BBC News |archive-date = 25 February 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090225193634/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/988016.stm |url-status = live }}</ref> Govia negotiated a deal with Connex to buy out the remainder of its franchise, this was completed in August 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/mergers/mergers_fta/mergers_fta_advice/govia |title = Proposed acquisition by Govia Limited of Connex South Central Limited |publisher = [[Office of Fair Trading]] |date = 16 August 2001 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120529071252/http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/mergers/mergers_fta/mergers_fta_advice/govia |archive-date = 29 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20011021172522/http://www.go-ahead.com/Press/2001releases/pressaugustb2001.htm |archive-date = 21 October 2001 |url = http://www.go-ahead.com/Press/2001releases/pressaugustb2001.htm |title = Completion of Acquisition of South Central Franchise |publisher = Go-Ahead |date = 28 August 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/2001pres/ar2001.pdf |title = Annual Accounts 2001 |publisher = Go-Ahead Group |date = 30 June 2001 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121123165824/http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/2001pres/ar2001.pdf |archive-date = 23 November 2012 }}</ref> Govia trading as SouthCentral<ref>{{cite web |url = http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03010919 |title = New Southern Railway Limited formerly South Central Limited: company no 3010919 |publisher = Companies House |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813212309/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03010919 |archive-date=13 August 2016 }}</ref> took over operations on 26 August 2001. The franchise was originally to run for twenty years but, in 2002, the Strategic Rail Authority changed the way it handled financing agreements and therefore Govia was re-awarded with a seven-and-a-half-year franchise until December 2009.<ref name="connex" /><ref>{{cite magazine |last= Haigh |first= Philip |date= 18 September 2002 |title= SRA slashes South Central franchise from 20 to seven years |magazine= RAIL |issue= 444 |pages= 6–7 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title= New franchise agreement for South Central |date= July 2003 |magazine= [[Today's Railways UK|Entrain]] |issue= 19 |page= 6 |location = Sheffield}}</ref>

In May 2003, the franchise was rebranded as Southern in a recall of the pre-nationalisation [[Southern Railway (England)|Southern Railway]], using a green roundel logo with ''Southern'' in yellow in a green bar.

During April 2007, the [[Department for Transport]] (DfT) announced that the [[Gatwick Express]] franchise was to be incorporated into the main South Central franchise.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.whitehallpages.net/news/archive/26530 |title = (DFT) Agreement signed to amend Gatwick Express and Southern franchises |publisher = whitehallpages.net |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131102171503/http://www.whitehallpages.net/news/archive/26530 |archive-date = 2 November 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/2007news/2007-06-19.aspx |title= Agreement to amend the Gatwick Express and Southern Franchises |date = 19 June 2007 |publisher = Go-Ahead |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121123151534/http://go-ahead.com/media/news/2007news/2007-06-19.aspx |archive-date = 23 November 2012 }}</ref> This reorganisation was part of a wider plan to increase capacity on the [[Brighton Main Line]], involving the extension of peak-hour services from Gatwick to [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]] and [[Eastbourne railway station|Eastbourne]] from December 2008. This change doubled the number of London to Brighton express trains during those periods.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7782606.stm |title = Gatwick service benefits Brighton |date = 14 December 2008 |access-date = 11 October 2009 |publisher = BBC News |archive-date = 19 February 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090219025407/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7782606.stm |url-status = live }}</ref>

In December 2008, Southern took over the services on the [[Redhill to Tonbridge Line]] from [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/news/latest-news/december-2008-timetable-change/ |title = December 2008 timetable change |publisher = Southeastern News |date = 4 December 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131104084152/http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/news/latest-news/december-2008-timetable-change/ |archive-date = 4 November 2013 }}</ref>

The South Central franchise end date was brought forward to September 2009 upon the integration of the Gatwick Express service, to allow the new operator to be in place during major changes to the timetable in and around South London in December 2009.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070718210159/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/franchises/gatwickexpressandsouthern |archive-date = 18 July 2007 |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/franchises/gatwickexpressandsouthern |title = Agreement signed to amend Gatwick Express and Southern franchises |date = 19 June 2007 |publisher = Department for Transport}}</ref> In the run-up to the bidding process for the franchise, reports emerged suggesting that [[Transport for London]], the operator of the [[London Overground]] service, wished to take control of all overground services in South London, including the 'Metro' area of the South Central franchise.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090122054153/http://london.gov.uk/londoner/08mar/p3b.jsp?nav=around |archive-date = 22 January 2009 |url = http://www.london.gov.uk/londoner/08mar/p3b.jsp?nav=around |title = Next stop South London |date = 8 March 2008 |work = [[The Londoner]] |publisher = Greater London Authority}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2008/03/10/afx4751812.htmln |title = UK govt mulling handover of part of Go-Ahead's Southern franchise to TfL |date = 10 March 2008 |location = New York |access-date = 11 June 2009 |work = Forbes}}{{dead link|date=January 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> However, such a transfer never took place and the DfT put out the entire franchise for tender.

In August 2008, the DfT shortlisted Govia, [[National Express]], [[Abellio (transport company)|NedRail]] and [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]] for the new South Central franchise.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.whitehallpages.net/news/archive/127489 |title = Bidders for South Central franchise announced |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 20 August 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131102171718/http://www.whitehallpages.net/news/archive/127489 |archive-date = 2 November 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |url = http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?ClientId=202&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=377149&SubjectId=36 |title = Bidders for South Central franchise announced |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 20 August 2008 |access-date = 17 June 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120224071935/http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?ClientId=202&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=377149&SubjectId=36 |archive-date = 24 February 2012 |url-status = dead  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUKBNG755420080820 |title = Nat Exp and Stagecoach on rail bid shortlist |work = [[Reuters]] |date = 20 August 2008 |access-date = 11 June 2009 |archive-date = 30 November 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201130152242/https://uk.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUKBNG755420080820 |url-status = dead }}</ref> In June 2009, the DfT announced that Govia had retained the franchise, to start on 20 September 2009.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/2009news/2009-06-09.aspx |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111024002128/http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/2009news/2009-06-09.aspx |url-status = dead |archive-date = 24 October 2011 |title = Retention of South Central franchise |publisher = Go-Ahead |date = 9 June 2009 }}</ref><ref name="franchiseannouncement">{{Cite press release |url = http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?ClientId=202&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=402997&SubjectId=36 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090619055657/http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?ClientId=202&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=402997&SubjectId=36 |url-status = dead |archive-date = 19 June 2009 |title = More frequent and more secure rail services for London and the South East |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 9 June 2009 |access-date = 17 June 2009 }}</ref>

In March 2012, the Department for Transport announced that [[Abellio (transport company)|Abellio]], [[FirstGroup]], [[Govia]], [[MTR Corporation|MTR]] and [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]] had been shortlisted for the new Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-thameslink/thameslink-ojeu-notice.pdf |title = Thameslink Franchise OJEU Notice |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 19 December 2011 |access-date = 28 December 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130527143852/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-thameslink/thameslink-ojeu-notice.pdf |archive-date = 27 May 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20120329/ |title = Bidders to oversee improvements on rail franchises announced |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 29 March 2012 |access-date = 27 September 2012 |archive-date = 8 November 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121108022817/http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20120329 |url-status = live }}</ref> The Invitation to Tender was to be issued in October 2012, with the successful bidder announced in spring 2013. However, in the wake of the collapse of the [[InterCity West Coast]] refranchising process, the government announced in October 2012 that the process would be put on hold pending the results of a review.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20121003a |title = West Coast Main Line franchise competition cancelled |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 3 October 2012 |access-date = 17 October 2012 |archive-date = 10 October 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121010151357/http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20121003a/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

In December 2012, Southern's {{Stnlnk|London Victoria}} to {{Stnlnk|London Bridge}} via {{Stnlnk|Denmark Hill}} service ceased, being partially replaced by [[London Overground]]'s new {{Stnlnk|Clapham Junction}} to {{Stnlnk|Dalston Junction}} service.

At the conclusion of the Southern franchise in July 2015, the South Central franchise was merged into the [[Govia Thameslink Railway]] franchise, which is run as a [[management contract]] rather than a traditional franchise.<ref name=OJEUNotice19Dec11>{{cite web |url = http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-thameslink/thameslink-ojeu-notice.pdf |title = Official Journal of the European Union Notice |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 19 December 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130527143852/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-thameslink/thameslink-ojeu-notice.pdf |archive-date = 27 May 2013 }}</ref><ref name=DFTMay12>{{cite web |url = http://assets.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-23/consultation-thameslink.pdf |title = Consultation on the Combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise |publisher = Department for Transport |date = May 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120617070504/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-23/consultation-thameslink.pdf |archive-date = 17 June 2012 }}</ref> However, the Southern brand was retained.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.go-ahead.com/ourcompanies/rail/tsgnfranchise.aspx |title = Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise |publisher = Go-Ahead Group |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150320150254/http://www.go-ahead.com/ourcompanies/rail/tsgnfranchise.aspx |archive-date = 20 March 2015 }}</ref>

===2007 and 2008 timetables===
Southern was criticised for major changes to its timetables in December 2007 and December 2008.

In December 2007, Southern changed the arrangement for the splitting of services to and from London Victoria on the [[Arun Valley Line]], opting to split trains at [[Horsham railway station|Horsham]] rather than [[Barnham railway station|Barnham]], as well as run the portion to Portsmouth or Southampton non-stop to Barnham. Some passengers criticised this change as it increased the journey time to and from London by up to 10 minutes from certain stations, while in the event of services running behind schedule, trains were sometimes not split at Horsham, and proceeded non-stop to Barnham, leaving Arun Valley commuters at Horsham with the prospect of no onward trains.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/2290/Rail-revolt-as-trains-dump.4893530.jp |title = Rail revolt as trains dump passengers |location = Horsham |date = 20 January 2009 |access-date = 4 February 2009 |newspaper = West Sussex County Times |archive-date = 18 January 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100118083311/http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/2290/Rail-revolt-as-trains-dump.4893530.jp |url-status = live }}</ref>

During December 2008, further timetable changes included the introduction of the extended Gatwick Express services. However, reliability and timekeeping on some of the new services were considered poor, leading to several public meetings being held.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/Commuters-form-pressure-group.4858894.jp |title = Commuters form pressure group |date = 8 January 2009 |access-date = 26 January 2009 |newspaper = Eastbourne Herald}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://groups.google.com/group/southern-east-coastway-commuters/web/record-of-meetings |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121107012743/http://groups.google.com/group/southern-east-coastway-commuters/web/record-of-meetings |url-status = dead |archive-date = 7 November 2012 |title = Record of Meetings |publisher = Southern East Coastway Commuters |date = 24 January 2009 |access-date = 26 January 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bexhillrailaction.org.uk/bragnewsdec2008.doc |title = News Christmas 2008 |publisher = Bexhill Rail Action Group |access-date = 26 January 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110905115626/http://www.bexhillrailaction.org.uk/bragnewsdec2008.doc |archive-date = 5 September 2011 |url-status = dead}}</ref> On 22 January 2009, Southern responded to some of these criticisms. During 2009, these services have recorded improved timekeeping and criticisms have since subsided.<ref name="Dec08CriticismResponse">{{cite web |url = http://southernrailway.com/news.php?id=218&u=news.php |title = News – Southern Railway |date = 22 January 2009 |access-date = 26 January 2009 |publisher = Southern }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The new timetable also led to unhappiness due to the difference in speed and frequency of service between East Coastway services and those on the Brighton Main Line.<ref name="BRAGFasterTrains">{{cite web |url = http://www.bexhillrailaction.org.uk/jan2009fastertrainscampaign.doc |title = BRAG's Faster Trains Campaign |date = January 2009 |publisher = Bexhill Rail Action Group |access-date = 26 January 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110905115641/http://www.bexhillrailaction.org.uk/jan2009fastertrainscampaign.doc |archive-date = 5 September 2011 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="BRAGFasterTrainsInEBHerald">{{cite news |url = http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/Rail-users-want-faster-trains.4905815.jp |title = Rail users want faster trains |date = 22 January 2009 |access-date = 26 January 2009 |newspaper = Eastbourne Herald |archive-date = 29 January 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090129203734/http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/Rail-users-want-faster-trains.4905815.jp |url-status = live }}</ref>

===December 2010 timetable===
Further changes to the timetable were made in December 2010; the first timetable change to include many of the requirements of the new franchise. Additional services were included at evenings and weekends. In the London area a 'metro' frequency of service was introduced on most routes with the extension of the weekday daytime four-trains-per-hour norm to late evenings (up to around midnight), Saturdays and Sundays. In addition, new late-night services were introduced from London on Friday and Saturday nights with last trains leaving central London at around 00:30.<ref name=december2010timetable>{{cite web |url = http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/news/news-archive/2010/10/december-timetable-changes-announced/ |title = December timetable changes announced : Southern |access-date = 30 December 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161231075623/http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/news/news-archive/2010/10/december-timetable-changes-announced/ |archive-date = 31 December 2016 |url-status = dead}}</ref>

Outside London, a new later-evening service was introduced to Uckfield from London Bridge, new late-night services from Brighton along the West Coastway line and direct services between Southampton and Brighton on Sundays.<ref name=december2010timetable/>

===Punctuality and overcrowding===
In January 2015, Southern hit controversy when it was revealed that the 7.29am Brighton to London Victoria train failed to get in on time on any occasion out of all 240 attempts in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11339623/Britains-worst-train-service-Southerns-7.29-Brighton-to-London-train-was-late-every-day-for-a-year.html |title = Britain's worst train service: Southern's 7.29 Brighton to London train was late every day for a year |date = 12 January 2015 |newspaper = The Daily Telegraph|location = London |url-access = subscription |access-date = 23 May 2023 |archive-date = 30 August 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160830130240/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11339623/Britains-worst-train-service-Southerns-7.29-Brighton-to-London-train-was-late-every-day-for-a-year.html |url-status = live }}</ref> Later in May 2015 it was revealed that Southern had fined passengers for standing in first class on an overcrowded train.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11615451/Southern-Railway-fines-passengers-forced-to-stand-in-first-class.html |title = Southern Railway fines passengers forced to stand in first class |date = 19 May 2015 |newspaper = The Daily Telegraph|location = London |access-date = 4 April 2018 |archive-date = 7 March 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307041042/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11615451/Southern-Railway-fines-passengers-forced-to-stand-in-first-class.html |url-status = live }}</ref> Only 20% of Southern trains arrived on time in the year from April 2015 to March 2016, and there was an ongoing industrial dispute over driver-only operated trains.<ref name=standard-20160617>{{cite news |url = https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/govia-thameslink-railway-boss-refuses-to-defend-ceo-s-2m-pay-a3274396.html |title = Govia Thameslink Railway boss refuses to defend CEO £2m pay |first = Joseph |last = Watts |newspaper = Evening Standard|location = London |date = 17 June 2016 |access-date = 20 June 2016 |archive-date = 30 November 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201130152245/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/govia-thameslink-railway-boss-refuses-to-defend-ceo-s-2m-pay-a3274396.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=ylg-20160617>{{cite news |url = http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/14562593.Boss_of_Epsom_s_main_train_operator_takes_home___2_1m_paycheck_despite__appalling_service_/ |title = Boss of Epsom's main train operator Govia Thameslink Railway takes home £2.1m paycheck despite "appalling service" |author=Craig Richard |newspaper=Your Local Guardian |date=17 June 2016 |access-date=20 June 2016 |archive-date=18 June 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160618143549/http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/14562593.Boss_of_Epsom_s_main_train_operator_takes_home___2_1m_paycheck_despite__appalling_service_/ |url-status = live }}</ref> In late 2016, the [[Transport Select Committee]] told ministers to "get a grip" on railway franchises, with their report asking if the train operator was in breach of their contractual obligations due to the large number of cancelled trains, and went on to say, "in normal circumstances, this would be grounds for termination of the contract".<ref name="BBC News select committee 2016">{{cite news |title = MPs urge ministers to 'get a grip' in midst of Southern strike woes |publisher = BBC News |date = 14 October 2016 |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37650531 |access-date = 28 December 2016 |archive-date = 17 October 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161017190501/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37650531 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="The Week UK select committee 2016">{{cite web |title = Rail strike: MPs tell government to 'get a grip' on franchises |website = The Week UK |date = 14 September 2016 |url = http://www.theweek.co.uk/63645/southern-rail-strike-staff-begin-48-hour-walkout |access-date = 28 December 2016 |archive-date = 29 December 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161229102510/http://www.theweek.co.uk/63645/southern-rail-strike-staff-begin-48-hour-walkout |url-status = live }}</ref>

===2016 amended timetable===
In 2016, the company introduced an "amended timetable [that] would be a temporary measure until staffing returned to normal" to be announced on 5 July. The [[National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers]] (RMT) [[trade union]] said that 350 services would be cancelled every day (the company ran 2,242 weekday services in the previous timetable). The company said it had insufficient personnel, and too many were taking [[sick leave]]; the union denied that high levels of sickness were the cause of cancellations, while agreeing that there were an insufficient number of guards and drivers.<ref name=bbc4072016/>

The government [[Department for Transport]] said that the situation was unacceptable. While the company was obliged to notify the department in advance, this did not amount to giving the company permission for the changes. The RMT union general secretary [[Mick Cash]] said the government had permitted GTR to introduce the emergency timetable, but that it was "nothing to do with staff sickness and everything to do with gross mismanagement of this franchise and the failure to employ enough guards and drivers. ... a cynical and cowardly ploy".<ref name=bbc4072016>{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36701300 |title = Southern rail timetable 'loses 350 trains a day' |publisher = BBC News |date = 4 July 2016 |access-date = 4 July 2016 |archive-date = 4 July 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160704092718/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36701300 |url-status = live }}</ref>

The ''[[London Evening Standard]]'' mentioned Southern in an article in June 2016 "Southern rail suggests commuter goes on 100 mile detour to Clapham instead of her normal six minute journey".<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/southern-rail-tells-commuter-to-take-100mile-detour-a3271896.html |title = Southern rail suggests commuter goes 100 mile detour to Clapham instead of her normal six minute journey |website = Evening Standard|location=London |date = 15 June 2016 |access-date = 4 April 2018 |archive-date = 3 July 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170703221636/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/southern-rail-tells-commuter-to-take-100mile-detour-a3271896.html |url-status = live }}</ref> In June 2016, amongst criticism of the performance of its services, Go-Ahead warned of lower than anticipated profits on its [[Govia Thameslink Railway]] franchises, leading to an 18% drop in the Go-Ahead share price.<ref name=bbc-20160614>{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36527097 |title = Thameslink woes hit Go-Ahead shares |publisher = BBC News |date = 14 June 2016 |access-date = 20 June 2016 |archive-date = 17 June 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160617162437/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36527097 |url-status = live }}</ref>

From 31 October 2016, Southern restored the full weekday timetable.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/news/southern-restores-more-services-to-timetable/ |title = Southern restores more services to the timetable |work = Southern Railway |date = 20 October 2016 |access-date = 28 October 2016 |archive-date = 28 October 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161028220021/http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/news/southern-restores-more-services-to-timetable/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

===Control of doors and strikes===
{{main|Southern Railway strike (2016–2017)}}
In 2016, Southern altered its method of door operation, with control of the doors moving from the conductor to the driver. Southern said this would allow the conductor to concentrate on the passengers, but the [[National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers|RMT]] and [[Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen]] (ASLEF) unions said that it was an attempt to make conductors unnecessary and would be unsafe. The rail safety regulator, the Rail Standards and Safety Board has said that "We have 30 years of data which we have analysed. We have found that the driver performing the task does not increase the risk to passengers at all."<ref>{{cite magazine |url = http://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/2016/08/18/rssb-no-evidence-of-increased-risk-from-doo |title = RSSB: "No evidence of increased risk" from DOO |access-date = 17 December 2016 |archive-date = 20 December 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220145649/http://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/2016/08/18/rssb-no-evidence-of-increased-risk-from-doo |url-status = live |magazine = [[Rail Magazine]] }}</ref> During 2016, the RMT and ASLEF unions went on strike over the changes, causing severe disruption to Southern services.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-38308461 |title = Southern rail and unions to hold new talks over strikes |publisher = BBC News |date = 13 December 2016 |access-date = 21 June 2018 |archive-date = 27 March 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180327051021/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-38308461 |url-status = live }}</ref> The strikes continued into 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-38171404 |title = Southern railway pre-Christmas strike dates changed |publisher = BBC News |date = 1 December 2016 |access-date = 21 June 2018 |archive-date = 30 November 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171130080419/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-38171404 |url-status = live}}</ref>

The BBC suggested that the RMT union are particularly worried about the new method of operation because if drivers (rather than conductors) control the doors then trains could run without conductors and thus any strike by conductors would not have the power to cancel trains.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38305415 |title = The politics behind the Southern rail dispute |publisher = BBC News |date = 13 December 2016 |access-date = 21 June 2018 |archive-date = 27 March 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180327051013/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38305415 |url-status = live }}</ref>

In December 2016, it was announced that the government would pay £50{{nbsp}}million to Southern to cover the costs of the disruption caused by the strikes, due to a deal between the government and Southern. This deal means that the government pays £38{{nbsp}}million for lost revenue and £15{{nbsp}}million in compensation to passengers. This deal also means that Govia Thameslink Railway will save around £1.1{{nbsp}}million in pay for striking workers.<ref name="Swinford 2016">{{cite news |last = Swinford |first = Steven |title = Taxpayers foot £50m bill for Southern rail strike chaos as ministers prepare to tighten law |newspaper = The Telegraph |date = 13 December 2016 |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/13/taxpayers-foot-50million-bill-southern-rail-strike-chaos-ministers/ |url-access = subscription |access-date = 23 May 2023 |archive-date=28 December 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161228001326/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/13/taxpayers-foot-50million-bill-southern-rail-strike-chaos-ministers/ |url-status = live }}</ref> Commentators argued that the government gave a management contract rather than a normal franchise to GTR in order to push through DOO. The management contract meant that GTR did not have the incentive to resolve strikes as a normal franchisee would have, as the government lost money from strikes rather than GTR.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.lbc.co.uk/news/the-news-explained/lbcs-long-read-the-southern-rail-debacle/ |title = Why Southern Rail's Strikes May Go on For Years |access-date = 3 January 2017 |archive-date = 4 January 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170104094321/http://www.lbc.co.uk/news/the-news-explained/lbcs-long-read-the-southern-rail-debacle/ |url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.citymetric.com/transport/southern-rail-mess-isn-t-privatisation-failure-it-s-return-1970s-2321 |title = The Southern Rail mess isn't a privatisation failure – it's a return to the 1970s |date = 8 August 2016 |access-date = 3 January 2017 |archive-date = 4 January 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170104162816/http://www.citymetric.com/transport/southern-rail-mess-isn-t-privatisation-failure-it-s-return-1970s-2321 |url-status = live |website = citymetric.com}}</ref>

On 2 February 2017, the TUC announced that talks between Southern and ASLEF had reached an agreement meaning that the dispute with ASLEF had been resolved. However, the RMT union said it was 'betrayed' by Southern and that strikes by the RMT would continue.<ref name="TUC">{{Cite web |url=https://www.tuc.org.uk/about-tuc/statement-successful-resolution-talks-between-gtr-southern-rail-and-aslef |title=Statement on the successful resolution to talks between GTR (Southern Rail) and ASLEF |access-date=2 February 2017 |archive-date=3 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203162636/https://www.tuc.org.uk/about-tuc/statement-successful-resolution-talks-between-gtr-southern-rail-and-aslef |url-status=live }}</ref> On 29 June 2017, ASLEF implemented an overtime ban with the aim of highlighting a claimed failure by Southern to recruit adequate staff.