Editing Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway) (section)

===Future of the franchise===
In January 2016, [[Transport for London]] announced a proposal to take over the London suburban parts of the franchise in 2021 through a partnership with the Department for Transport to form a new suburban metro service.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/tfl-to-control-all-london-commuter-services-and-new-metro-network- |title = TfL to control all London commuter services and new metro network |access-date = 21 January 2016 |archive-date = 28 January 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160128053600/http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/tfl-to-control-all-london-commuter-services-and-new-metro-network- |url-status = live}}</ref> However, the plan was rejected by Transport Secretary [[Chris Grayling]] in December 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last = Gillett |first = Francesca |url = https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/sadiq-khan-hits-back-after-government-blocks-plan-for-tfl-to-take-over-suburban-rail-services-a3414126.html |title = Sadiq Khan hits back after government blocks suburban rail takeover plan |date = 7 December 2016 |work = Evening Standard|location=London |access-date = 29 June 2017 |archive-date = 17 August 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170817211200/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/sadiq-khan-hits-back-after-government-blocks-plan-for-tfl-to-take-over-suburban-rail-services-a3414126.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

In January 2017, it was reported that the Department for Transport was considering temporarily renationalising the franchise if the service did not improve.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Swinford |first1 = Steven |title = Southern rail could be temporarily renationalised to deal with 'appalling' delays and cancellations |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/25/government-considering-taking-direct-control-southern-railway/ |url-access = subscription |access-date = 23 May 2023 |work = The Telegraph |date = 26 January 2017 |archive-date = 19 July 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170719094421/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/25/government-considering-taking-direct-control-southern-railway/ |url-status = live}}</ref>

On 17 June 2021, the DfT extended the current contract from 19 September 2021 to 31 March 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title = GTR contract extended to March 2022 |url = https://www.go-ahead.com/media/press-releases/gtr-contract-extended-march-2022 |access-date = 28 June 2021 |website = The Go-Ahead Group}}</ref>

The contract for the delivery of Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern services was extended by the DfT on 25 March 2022. The current contract will now expire on 1 April 2028.<ref name = dft22 />