Editing Thameslink (section)

==2014 franchise==
The [[invitation to tender]] for the [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern]] franchise was expected to be issued in October 2012, with the contract commencing in September 2013. On 29 March 2012, the [[Department for Transport]] announced [[Abellio (transport company)|Abellio]], [[FirstGroup]], [[Govia]], [[MTR Corporation]] and [[Stagecoach Group]] had pre-qualified to bid for the franchise.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/uk-franchise-pre-qualified-bidders-announced.html |title=UK franchise pre-qualified bidders announced |date=29 March 2012 |work=[[Railway Gazette International]] |location=London |access-date=5 April 2012 |archive-date=3 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403211916/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/uk-franchise-pre-qualified-bidders-announced.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Due to problems with the [[InterCity West Coast]] tendering process, the process was delayed, with the new franchise delayed until September 2014. The new franchise includes the [[Southern (train operating company)|South Central]] franchise currently operated by Southern and certain routes from the [[Integrated Kent Franchise]] currently operated by [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/245041/invitation-to-tender.pdf |title=Thameslink Southern & Great Northern Invitation to Tender |publisher=Department for Transport |date=26 September 2013}}</ref>

On 23 May 2014, it was announced that the franchise has been awarded to [[Govia Thameslink Railway]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27534731 |title= Govia wins Thameslink rail franchise |work=BBC News |date=28 January 2014 |access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref> The new Thameslink Southern & Great Northern franchise<ref name="DFT20140523"/> will include both the Thameslink Great Northern and South Central franchises.

Govia Thameslink Railway began operations on 14 September 2014, with the former [[First Capital Connect]] routes Thameslink and [[Great Northern Route|Great Northern]].