Editing Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)

{{short description|British train operating company}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox rail company
|name           = Southern
|logo           = SouthernRailwayLogo.svg
|caption        = A pair of Southern Class 377s at London Victoria Platforms 18 and 19 awaiting departure to Eastbourne and Reigate
|image          = Class 377s at London Victoria platforms 18 & 19.jpg
|image_size     = 300px
|franchise      = {{unbulleted list|Network SouthCentral<br />26 August 2001 – 24 May 2003|South Central<br />25 May 2003 – 19 September 2009|Gatwick Express<br />22 June 2008 – 19 September 2009|South Central (incl Gatwick Express)<br />20 September 2009 – 25 July 2015|Part of [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern]]<br />26 July 2015 – 1 April 2028<ref name = dft22 >{{Cite web |title = National Rail Contract Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern |url = https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1097662/govia-thameslink-railway-limited-2022-national-rail-contract.pdf |date = 24 March 2022 |access-date = 7 March 2023 |publisher = Department for Transport }}</ref>}}
|nameforarea    = Region
|regions        = [[Greater London]], [[South East England]]
|secregions     = [[East of England]]
|fleet          = 
{{plainlist|
* {{brc|171}} ''Turbostar'' 
* {{brc|377}} ''Electrostar'' 
* {{brc|387}} ''Electrostar'' 
}}
|abbr           = SN
|stations       = 213
|stationsop     = 156
|length        = {{cvt|666.3|km}}{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}
|parent_company = [[Govia Thameslink Railway]]
|website        = {{Official URL}}
|map = [[File:Govia Thameslink Railway Map.svg|300px|Route map]]
|gauge          = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
|el             = {{750 V DC|conductor=y}}<br>{{25 kV 50 Hz AC}} [[Overhead line|OHLE]]
}}
[[File:Brighton railway station - Sussex - England - 140804.jpg|right|thumb|A sign at [[Brighton station]] showing the name change from South Central to Southern in August 2004.]]
'''Southern''' is the brand name used by the [[Govia Thameslink Railway]] (GTR) [[train operating company]] on the Southern routes of the [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise]] in England.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/06574965 |title = Southern Railway Limited: company no 6574965 |publisher = [[Companies House]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160413000255/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/06574965 |archive-date = 13 April 2016 }}</ref> It is a subsidiary of [[Govia]], a joint venture between transport groups [[Go-Ahead Group|Go-Ahead]] and [[Keolis]], and has operated the '''South Central franchise''' since August 2001 and the [[Gatwick Express]] service since June 2008. When the [[Passenger rail franchising in Great Britain|passenger rail franchise]] was subsumed into GTR, Southern was split from Gatwick Express and the two became separate brands, alongside the [[Thameslink]] and [[Great Northern route|Great Northern]] brands.

Southern operates the majority of commuter services from its Central London terminals at [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]] and {{stnlnk|London Victoria}} to South London, [[East Sussex|East]] and [[West Sussex]], as well as regional services in parts of [[Hampshire]], [[Kent]] and [[Surrey]]. It also provides services between [[Watford Junction]] and [[Croydon]] via the [[West London line]].

For three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018, Southern came last on passenger satisfaction in surveys conducted by the consumer group ''[[Which?]]'', scoring low for value for money, reliability, and punctuality in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/southern-rail-uk-worst-train-service-2017-third-year-row-which-thameslink-great-northern-a8162516.html |title = Southern Rail voted UK's worst train service for third year in a row |date = 16 January 2018 |website = [[The Independent]]|access-date = 13 January 2019 |archive-date = 30 November 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201130152251/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/southern-rail-uk-worst-train-service-2017-third-year-row-which-thameslink-great-northern-a8162516.html |url-status = live}}</ref> In 2022, Southern was ranked second-worst on overall passenger satisfaction in a survey conducted by [[Transport Focus]].<ref>{{Cite web |date = 9 February 2022 |title = Passengers rank 'worst' rail companies as Southern named among least punctual |url = https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2022-02-09/southern-and-thameslink-among-worst-rail-operators-in-rail-passenger-survey |access-date = 20 November 2022 |website = ITV News}}</ref>

==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.

==Services==
<section begin=service-table/>
The standard off-peak service as of June 2024 is:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southern June 2024 Timetable |url=https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/timetables}}</ref>

{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="3" | [[Brighton Main Line]]
|-
! Route || tph || Calling at 
|-
| {{rws|London Victoria}} – {{rws|Littlehampton}} || 2 || {{cslist|{{rws|Clapham Junction}}, {{rws|East Croydon}}, {{rws|Gatwick Airport}}, {{rws|Haywards Heath}}, {{rws|Burgess Hill}}, {{rws|Hassocks}}, {{rws|Preston Park}}, {{rws|Hove}}, {{rws|Portslade}}, {{rws|Shoreham-by-Sea}}, {{rws|Lancing}}, {{rws|Worthing}}, {{rws|West Worthing}}, {{rws|Durrington-on-Sea}}, {{rws|Goring-by-Sea}}, {{rws|Angmering}}}}
|-
| London Victoria – {{rws|Eastbourne}} || 1 || {{cslist|Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath, {{rws|Wivelsfield}}, {{rws|Cooksbridge}}, {{rws|Lewes}}, {{rws|Polegate}}, {{rws|Hampden Park}}}}
|-
| London Victoria – {{rws|Ore}} || 1 || {{cslist|Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath, Wivelsfield, {{rws|Plumpton}}, Lewes, Polegate, Eastbourne,{{efn|name="rv"|Trains reverse here}} Hampden Park, {{rws|Pevensey & Westham}}, {{rws|Normans Bay}}, {{rws|Cooden Beach}}, {{rws|Collington}}, {{rws|Bexhill}}, {{rws|St Leonards Warrior Square}}, {{rws|Hastings}}}}
|-
! colspan="3" | [[Arun Valley line]]
|-
! Route || tph || Calling at 
|-
| London Victoria – {{rws|Portsmouth Harbour}} via Crawley || 2 || {{cslist|Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Crawley, Horsham, Barnham, Chichester, {{rws|Fishbourne}} (1tph), {{rws|Bosham}} (1tph), {{rws|Nutbourne}} (1tph), {{rws|Southbourne}}, {{rws|Emsworth}}, {{rws|Warblington}} (1tph) , {{rws|Havant}}, {{rws|Hilsea}}, {{rws|Fratton}}, {{rws|Portsmouth & Southsea}}}}
*This route splits/merges at Horsham with the route to {{rws|Bognor Regis}} (see below). Fishbourne, Bosham, Nutbourne and Warblington are served by the same train
|-
| London Victoria – {{rws|Bognor Regis}} via Crawley || 2 || {{cslist|Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Crawley, Horsham, {{rws|Christ's Hospital}}, {{rws|Billingshurst}}, {{rws|Pulborough}}, {{rws|Amberley}}, {{rws|Arundel}}, {{rws|Ford}}, Barnham}}
*This route splits/merges at Horsham with the route to {{rws|Portsmouth Harbour}}, see above.
|-
! colspan="3" | [[Seaford branch line]]
|-
! Route || tph || Calling at
|-
| {{rws|Brighton}} – {{rws|Seaford|Sussex}} || 2 || {{cslist|{{rws|London Road (Brighton)}}, {{rws|Moulsecoomb}}, {{rws|Falmer}}, {{rws|Lewes}}, {{rws|Southease}} (1tph), {{rws|Newhaven Town}}, {{rws|Newhaven Harbour}} (1tph), {{rws|Bishopstone}}}}

* Services alternate between serving Southease and Newhaven Harbour
|-
! colspan="3" | [[East Coastway line|East Coastway]] and [[Marshlink line]]s
|-
! Route !! {{abbr|tph|trains per hour}} !! Calling at 
|-
| Brighton – {{rws|Eastbourne}} || 1 || {{cslist|London Road (Brighton), Moulsecoomb, Falmer, Lewes, {{rws|Glynde}}, {{rws|Berwick|Sussex}}, {{rws|Polegate}}, Hampden Park}} 
|-
| Brighton – {{rws|Ore}} || 1 || {{cslist|Falmer, Lewes, Polegate, Hampden Park (Ore-bound only), Eastbourne,{{efn|name="rv"}} Hampden Park (Brighton-bound only), {{rws|Bexhill}}, {{rws|St Leonards Warrior Square}},{{rws|Hastings}}}}
|-
| Eastbourne – {{rws|Ashford International}} || 1 || {{cslist|Hampden Park, {{rws|Pevensey & Westham}}, {{rws|Cooden Beach}}, {{rws|Collington}}, Bexhill, St Leonards Warrior Square, Hastings, {{rws|Ore}}, {{rws|Three Oaks}} , {{rws|Winchelsea}},  {{rws|Rye|East Sussex}}, {{rws|Appledore|Kent}}, {{rws|Ham Street}}}}
|-
! colspan="3" | [[West Coastway line]]
|-
! Route || tph || Calling at 
|-
| Brighton – {{rws|Southampton Central}}|| 2 || {{cslist|Hove, {{rws|Portslade}}, {{rws|Southwick}}, {{rws|Shoreham-by-Sea}}, {{rws|Lancing}}, {{rws|Worthing}}, {{rws|Angmering}}, {{rws|Ford}}, {{rws|Barnham}}, {{rws|Chichester}}, {{rws|Southbourne}}, {{rws|Emsworth}}, {{rws|Havant}}, {{rws|Cosham}}, {{rws|Portchester}} (1tph) {{rws|Fareham}}, {{rws|Swanwick}}, {{rws|Woolston}}}}
|-
| Brighton – [[Portsmouth & Southsea railway station|Portsmouth & Southsea]]|| 1 || {{cslist|Hove, Portslade, Southwick, Shoreham-by-Sea, Lancing, {{rws|East Worthing}}, Worthing, {{rws|West Worthing}}, {{rws|Durrington-on-Sea}}, {{rws|Goring-by-Sea}} , Angmering, Barnham, Chichester, Havant, {{rws|Fratton}}}}
|-
| Brighton to Chichester via Littlehampton || 1 || {{cslist|Hove, {{rws|Aldrington}}, Portslade, {{rws|Fishersgate}}, Southwick, Shoreham-by-Sea, Lancing, East Worthing, Worthing, West Worthing, Durrington-on-Sea, Goring-by-Sea, Angmering, Littlehampton,{{efn|name="rv"|Trains reverse here}} Ford, Barnham, }}
|-
| Barnham – Bognor Regis || 2 || ''Shuttle service''
|-
! colspan="3" | [[Oxted line]]
|-
! Route || tph || Calling at 
|-
| {{rws|London Victoria}} – {{rws|East Grinstead}} || 1 || {{cslist|{{rws|Clapham Junction}}, East Croydon, {{rws|Sanderstead}}, {{rws|Riddlesdown}}, {{rws|Upper Warlingham}}, {{rws|Woldingham}}, {{rws|Oxted}}, {{rws|Hurst Green}}, {{rws|Lingfield}}, {{rws|Dormans}}}}
|-
| {{rws|London Bridge}} – {{rws|Uckfield}} || 1 || {{cslist|East Croydon, Oxted, Hurst Green, {{rws|Edenbridge Town}}, {{rws|Hever}}, {{rws|Cowden}}, {{rws|Ashurst|Kent}}, {{rws|Eridge}}, {{rws|Crowborough}}, {{rws|Buxted}}}}
|-
! colspan="3" | Reigate and [[Redhill–Tonbridge line]]
|-
! Route || tph || Calling at 
|-
| {{rws|London Victoria}} – {{rws|Reigate}} || 2 || {{cslist|{{rws|Clapham Junction}}, {{rws|East Croydon}}, {{rws|Purley}}, {{rws|Coulsdon South}}, {{rws|Merstham}}, {{rws|Redhill}}}} 
|-
| Redhill – {{rws|Tonbridge}} || 1 || {{cslist|{{rws|Nutfield}}, {{rws|Godstone}}, {{rws|Edenbridge}}, {{rws|Penshurst}}, {{rws|Leigh}}}} 
|-
! colspan="3" | West London Route
|-
! Route || tph || Calling at 
|-
| {{rws|Watford Junction}} – {{rws|East Croydon}} || 1 || {{cslist|{{rws|Harrow & Wealdstone}}, {{rws|Wembley Central}}, {{rws|Shepherd's Bush}}, {{rws|Kensington (Olympia)}}, {{rws|West Brompton}}, {{rws|Imperial Wharf}}, {{rws|Clapham Junction}}, {{rws|Balham}}, {{rws|Streatham Common}}, {{rws|Norbury}}, {{rws|Thornton Heath}}, {{rws|Selhurst}}}}
*2tpd starts/terminates at {{rws|Clapham Junction}}
*1tpd starts/terminates at {{rws|Selhurst}}
|-
! colspan="3" | [[Mole Valley Line]]
|-
! Route || tph || Calling at 
|-
| {{rws|London Victoria}} – {{rws|Dorking}} via Carshalton || 1 || {{cslist|{{rws|Clapham Junction}}, {{rws|Balham}}, {{rws|Mitcham Eastfields}}, {{rws|Mitcham Junction}}, {{rws|Hackbridge}}, {{rws|Carshalton}}, {{rws|Sutton|London}}, {{rws|Cheam}}, {{rws|Epsom}}, {{rws|Ashtead}}, {{rws|Leatherhead}}}}
|-
| London Victoria – {{rws|Horsham}} via Carshalton || 1 || {{cslist|Clapham Junction, Balham, Mitcham Eastfields, Mitcham Junction, Hackbridge, Carshalton, Sutton, Cheam, {{rws|Ewell East}}, Epsom, Ashtead, Leatherhead, {{rws|Box Hill & Westhumble}}, Dorking, {{rws|Holmwood}}, {{rws|Ockley}}, {{rws|Warnham}}}}
|-
| London Victoria – {{rws|Epsom Downs}} via Norbury || 2 || {{cslist|{{rws|Battersea Park}}, Clapham Junction, {{rws|Wandsworth Common}}, Balham, {{rws|Streatham Common}}, {{rws|Norbury}}, {{rws|Thornton Heath}}, {{rws|Selhurst}}, {{rws|West Croydon}}, {{rws|Waddon}}, {{rws|Wallington}}, {{rws|Carshalton Beeches}}, Sutton, {{rws|Belmont|Sutton}}, {{rws|Banstead}}}}
|-
| {{rws|London Bridge}} – Epsom || 2 || {{cslist|{{rws|Norwood Junction}}, West Croydon, Waddon, Wallington, Carshalton Beeches, Sutton, Cheam, Ewell East}} 
|-
! colspan="3" | [[Caterham line|Caterham]] and [[Tattenham Corner line]]s
|-
! Route || tph || Calling at 
|-
| London Bridge – {{rws|Caterham}} || 2 || {{cslist|Norwood Junction, East Croydon, {{rws|South Croydon}}, {{rws|Purley Oaks}}, Purley, {{rws|Kenley}}, {{rws|Whyteleafe}}, {{rws|Whyteleafe South}}}}
*This route splits/merges at Purley with the route to {{rws|Tattenham Corner}}, see below.
|-
| London Bridge – {{rws|Tattenham Corner}} || 2 || {{cslist|Norwood Junction, East Croydon, South Croydon, Purley Oaks, Purley, {{rws|Reedham|London}}, {{rws|Coulsdon Town}}, {{rws|Woodmansterne}}, {{rws|Chipstead}}, {{rws|Kingswood}}, {{rws|Tadworth}}}}
*This route splits/merges at Purley with the route to {{rws|Caterham}}, see above.
|-
! colspan="3" | London via Crystal Palace and/or Tulse Hill
|-
! Route || tph || Calling at 
|-
| {{rws|London Victoria}} – {{rws|West Croydon}} via Crystal Palace || 2 || {{cslist|Battersea Park, Clapham Junction, Balham, {{rws|Streatham Hill}}, {{rws|West Norwood}}, {{rws|Gipsy Hill}}, {{rws|Crystal Palace}}, {{rws|Norwood Junction}}}}
|-
| London Victoria – {{rws|London Bridge}} via Crystal Palace || 2 || {{cslist|Battersea Park, Clapham Junction, {{rws|Wandsworth Common}}, Balham, Streatham Hill, West Norwood, Gipsy Hill, Crystal Palace, {{rws|Sydenham|London}}, {{rws|Forest Hill}}, {{rws|Honor Oak Park}}, {{rws|Brockley}}, {{rws|New Cross Gate}}}} 
|-
| London Bridge – {{rws|East Croydon}} via Tulse Hill || 2 || {{cslist|{{rws|South Bermondsey}}, {{rws|Queens Road Peckham}}, {{rws|Peckham Rye}}, {{rws|East Dulwich}}, {{rws|North Dulwich}}, {{rws|Tulse Hill}}, {{rws|Streatham}}, {{rws|Streatham Common}}, {{rws|Norbury}}, {{rws|Thornton Heath}}, {{rws|Selhurst}}}}
|-
| London Bridge – {{rws|Beckenham Junction}} via Tulse Hill and Crystal Palace || 2 || {{cslist|South Bermondsey, Queens Road Peckham, Peckham Rye, East Dulwich, North Dulwich, Tulse Hill, West Norwood, Gipsy Hill, Crystal Palace, {{rws|Birkbeck}}}}
|}
<section end=service-table/>
[[File:Norwoodjunction5.JPG|right|thumb|Southern exterior signage at [[Norwood Junction station]] (now replaced by [[London Overground]] signage)]]

==Rolling stock==

{{As of|2022|5}}, Southern services are almost entirely operated by 214 [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377]] electric multiple units, with the exception of services on the unelectrified [[Marshlink line]] and the [[Uckfield railway station|Uckfield]] branch of the [[Oxted line]], which use [[British Rail Class 171|Class 171]] diesel multiple units.

South Central inherited a fleet of [[British Rail Class 205|Class 205]], [[British Rail Class 207|Class 207]], [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]], [[British Rail Class 421|Class 421]], [[British Rail Class 423|Class 423]], [[British Rail Class 455|Class 455]] and [[British Rail Class 456|Class 456]] multiple-unit trains from [[Connex South Central]]. Southern inherited a [[British Rail Class 73|Class 73]] locomotive and [[British Rail Class 460|Class 460 ''Juniper'']] trains from [[Gatwick Express]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}}

A franchise commitment was to replace all the Mark 1 slam-door stock, resulting in Southern ordering 28 three-car DC, 139 four-car DC and 15 four-car dual-voltage [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377 ''Electrostars'']] in September 2001 and March 2002 to replace the Class 421, Class 422 and Class 423s.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Haigh |first= Philip |date= 20 March 2002 |title= South Central orders 460 Electrostar coaches for £657M |magazine= RAIL |issue= 431 |pages= 4–5 }}</ref>

In August 2002, Southern ordered nine two-car and six four-car [[British Rail Class 171|Class 171 ''Turbostars'']] to replace the Class 205s and Class 207s on the routes that are not fully electrified.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Roden |first= Andrew |date= 21 August 2002 |title= In the Strategic Plan, but now the SRA drops South Central electrification… |magazine= RAIL |issue= 442 |pages= 4–5 }}</ref> A tenth two-car Class 171 was transferred from [[South West Trains]], entering traffic in July 2007.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Extra 170 for Southern |date= February 2007 |magazine= Today's Railways UK |issue= 62 |page= 63 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title= DMU digest |date= September 2007 |magazine= Today's Railways UK |issue= 69 |page= 62 }}</ref>

In 2007, Southern ordered 12 four-car, dual-voltage [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377/5 ''Electrostars'']] to replace the remaining twelve [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319s]] for transfer to [[First Capital Connect]]. In March 2008 [[Go-Ahead Group|Go Ahead]] purchased a further 11 Class 377/5s. All 23 ended up being sublet to First Capital Connect to provide extra stock for the [[Thameslink Programme]] Key Output Zero changes from March 2009. However, due to delays in their production, Class 377/2s were also sublet. To cover for this, Class 350/1s were subleased from [[London Midland]].<ref name="Southern">{{Cite web |url = http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/news/southern/2009-lm-desiros-for-loan.html |title = Desiros for Loan to Southern |website = Southern Electric Group |access-date = 28 September 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130928080016/http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/news/southern/2009-lm-desiros-for-loan.html |archive-date = 28 September 2013}}</ref>

To provide stock for the extended [[Gatwick Express]] services to Brighton, in 2008 Southern leased 17 [[British Rail Class 442|Class 442 ''Wessex Electrics'']] withdrawn by South West Trains in early 2007. After retaining the franchise in 2009, Southern leased the remaining seven Class 442s. The last of the Class 460 ''Junipers'' were withdrawn in September 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Class 460s bow out |date= November 2012 |magazine= Today's Railways UK |issue= 131 |page= 67 }}</ref>

To release Class 377/3s for use on London suburban services, Southern introduced a fleet of ex-[[London Overground Rail Operations|London Overground]] [[British Rail Class 313|Class 313s]] on the Coastway lines from May 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/features/rolling-stock/313/index.html |title = Class 313s come to Southern |publisher = Southern Electric Group |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130820114655/http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/features/rolling-stock/313/index.html |archive-date = 20 August 2013 }}</ref><ref name="RailMag">{{cite magazine |title= Southern takes on 313/1 from LOROL |date= 21 October 2009 |magazine= RAIL |issue= 629 |page= 32 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last= Clinnick |first= Richard |date= 2 June 2010 |title= Southern starts £6 million refresh of 20 Class 313s |magazine= RAIL |issue= 645 |pages= 26–27 }}</ref> The Class 313s remained in service until May 2023, when they were withdrawn and replaced by Class 377s.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Southern Class 313s to be withdrawn from traffic in May |date= 4 May 2023 |magazine= Railways Illustrated |issue= 244 |page= 19 }}</ref>

During 2011, Southern announced that, because of delays in procuring new trains for the [[Thameslink Programme]], the 23 [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377/5s]] on sub-lease to [[First Capital Connect]] would not be returned in time to deliver the operator's planned capacity increases from the December 2013 timetable change. It therefore began a process to procure 130 new vehicles.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2011/09/19-southern-to-order-more-trains.html |title= Southern to order more trains as Thameslink slips |work= Railnews |date= 19 September 2011 |access-date= 15 November 2011 |archive-date= 27 November 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111127015516/http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2011/09/19-southern-to-order-more-trains.html |url-status= live }}</ref> It was announced in December 2011 that [[Bombardier Transportation|Bombardier]] had been contracted to supply 26 five-car Class 377/6s.<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.bombardier.com/en/media-centre/newsList/details.31675-bombardier-wins-additional-order-for-130-electrostar-cars-from-southern-in-the-uk.html?filter-bu=transport&f-year=all&f-month=all&f-type=all&show-by-page=100&page=2 |date = 28 December 2011 |title = Bombardier Wins Additional Order for 130 Electrostar Cars from Southern in the UK |publisher = Bombardier |access-date = 28 December 2011 |archive-date = 2 November 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131102182850/http://www.bombardier.com/en/media-centre/newsList/details.31675-bombardier-wins-additional-order-for-130-electrostar-cars-from-southern-in-the-uk.html?filter-bu=transport&f-year=all&f-month=all&f-type=all&show-by-page=100&page=2 |url-status = live }}</ref> In November 2012, it was announced that an option for a further 40 vehicles was being exercised.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2012/11/16-dft-acts-to-ease-thameslink.html |title = DfT acts to ease Thameslink trains logjam |publisher = Railnews |date = 16 November 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121118014435/http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2012/11/16-dft-acts-to-ease-thameslink.html |archive-date = 18 November 2012 }}</ref>

All twenty-four [[British Rail Class 456|Class 456s]] were transferred to [[South West Trains]] in 2014 after the introduction of the Class 377/6 fleet.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

In April 2016, Southern commenced a lease for nine three-carriage [[British Rail Class 170|Class 170s]] last used by [[First ScotRail]] from [[Eversholt Rail Group]]. Four (170421–424) moved to [[Wolverton Works]] in 2015 and were reconfigured as two two-carriage and two four-carriage Class 171s. The other five (170416–420) remained in Scotland on sub-lease to [[Abellio ScotRail]] and were scheduled to move to Southern in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.abellio.com/sites/default/files/downloads/abellio_scotrail_qa_summary_v3_070115.pdf |title = Engineering plans at Haymarket Depot |publisher = Abellio ScotRail |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160822104855/https://www.abellio.com/sites/default/files/downloads/abellio_scotrail_qa_summary_v3_070115.pdf |archive-date = 22 August 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = Scottish Class 170/4s move south after transfer to Southern |magazine = Rail Magazine |issue = 772  |date = 15 April 2015 |page = 12}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = GTR readies former ScotRail Class 170/4s |magazine = Rail Magazine |issue = 804  |date = 6 July 2016 |page = 30}}</ref>

In May 2022, Southern withdrew its Class 455s and received 2 Class 377s from Southeastern.<ref>{{Cite web |date = 14 May 2022 |title = 👋 Today we're saying goodbye to our Class 455s. After 40 years in service, the farewell tour will take place on The Metro Marauder route and features two Class 455/8s. All profits will be donated to good causes nominated by GTR. |url = https://twitter.com/southernrailuk/status/1525371586060107776 |url-status = live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514205140/https://twitter.com/southernrailuk/status/1525371586060107776 |archive-date = 14 May 2022 |access-date = 16 May 2022 |website = Twitter |publisher = @SouthernRailUK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date = 13 December 2022 |title = Units numbers 377 163 and 377 164 transfer from Southeastern to Southern exact dates. - a Freedom of Information request to SE Trains Limited |url = https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/units_numbers_377_163_and_377_16 |access-date = 21 July 2023 |website = WhatDoTheyKnow}}</ref>

On 7 September 2022, three [[British Rail Class 171|Class 171s]], having been reformed to three-car formations and renumbered to 170422–424, transferred to [[East Midlands Railway]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title = EMR Evolves for the Future |magazine = Modern Railways |issue = 889 |date = August 2022 |pages = 51–56}}</ref>

Between December 2024 and December 2025, Southern is set to transfer 13 Class 377/1s (377121-133) to [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] to replace ageing [[British Rail Class 465|Class 465]] units. This will be made possible by the movement of 30 ex-[[Greater Anglia]] [[British Rail Class 379|Class 379]] sets to [[Great Northern route]] services from London Kings Cross, which will in turn allow [[British Rail Class 387|Class 387/1]] dual-voltage units currently in service with Great Northern to be released to work on Southern routes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southeastern to receive 13 Class 377s from Govia Thameslink as part of EMU reshuffle |url=https://www.railmagazine.com/news/fleet/2024/11/28/southeastern-to-receive-13-class-377s-from-govia-thameslink-as-part-of-emu-reshuffle |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=www.railmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Current fleet===
{| class="wikitable"
|----- bgcolor="#f9f9f9"
! rowspan="2" |Family
! rowspan="2" |Class
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Type
! colspan="2" |Top speed
! rowspan="2" |Number
! rowspan="2" |Carriages
! rowspan="2" |Routes operated
! rowspan="2" |Built
|-
! &nbsp;mph&nbsp;!&nbsp; |mph
! &nbsp;mph&nbsp;!&nbsp;&nbsp; |km/h
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Bombardier Turbostar]]
| rowspan="3" | [[British Rail Class 171|171]]
| rowspan="3" | [[File:Class 171 Hastings 13745676313.jpg|150px]]<br>[[File:171804Collington.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="3" | [[diesel multiple unit|DMU]]
| rowspan="10" | 100
| rowspan="10" | 160
| 13<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine|title=EMR Evolves for the Future|magazine=[[Modern Railways]]|issue=889|volume=79|date=October 2022 |page=52}}</ref><ref name="southernrailway.com">[http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/media-centre/useful-information/ Southern Useful Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906223415/http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/media-centre/useful-information/|date=6 September 2013}} - Southern. Retrieved 29 August 2013.</ref>
|align=center| 3
| rowspan="2" | [[Brighton Main Line]] (London Bridge to South Croydon)<br>[[Oxted line]] (to Uckfield only)<br>[[East Coastway line]]<br>[[Marshlink line]]
| rowspan="2" | {{nowrap|2003{{ndash}}04}}
|-
| 4<ref name="southernrailway.com" />
|align=center| 2
|-
| colspan="4" | [[File:Southern Class 171-2-7.png|alt=|378x378px]]<br>[[File:Southern Class 171-4-8.png|739x739px]]
|-
| rowspan="9" | [[Bombardier Electrostar]]
| rowspan="1" | [[British Rail Class 377|377/1]]
| rowspan="7" | [[File:377 322 of Southern at St Denys, Southampton.jpg|150px]]<br>[[File:Southern 377 at Hemel Hempstead.JPG|150px]]<br>[[File:Southern Class 377701 (42130818171).jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="9" | [[electric multiple unit|EMU]]
| 64
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 4
| rowspan="6" | Entire Southern network apart from sections between [[Hurst Green railway station|Hurst Green]] and [[Uckfield railway station|Uckfield]] & between [[Ore railway station|Ore]] and [[Ashford International railway station|Ashford International]]
| rowspan="6" | 2001{{ndash}}14
|-
| rowspan="1" | [[British Rail Class 377|377/2]]
| 15
|-
| rowspan="1" | [[British Rail Class 377|377/3]]
| 28
| align="center" | 3
|-
| rowspan="1" | [[British Rail Class 377|377/4]]
| 75
| align="center" | 4
|-
| rowspan="1" | [[British Rail Class 377|377/6]]
| 26
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 5
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[British Rail Class 377|377/7]]
| 8
|-
| colspan="4" | [[File:Southern Class 377-3..png|alt=|510x510px]]<br>[[File:Southern Class 377-1-4.png|alt=|676x676px]]<br>[[File:Southern Class 377-7.png|alt=|821x821px]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[British Rail Class 387|387/2]]
| rowspan="2" | [[File:387204 Gatwick Airport.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | 110
| rowspan="2" | 177
| Varies
| align="center" | 4<ref name="RailExpressNovember2022">{{cite magazine |date=November 2022 |title=Units |magazine=Rail Express |issue=318 |page=27}}</ref>
| '''Units borrowed from [[Gatwick Express]] on a rotational basis according to demand.'''<p>[[Brighton Main Line]]<br>[[East Coastway line]]<br>[[West Coastway line]] (Brighton to Southampton Central)</p>
| 2016{{ndash}}17
|-
| colspan="4" | [[File:Gatwick Express Class 387-2.png|680px]]
|}

===Past fleet===
Former units operated by Southern include:
{| class="wikitable"
|----- bgcolor="#f9f9f9"
!&nbsp;Class&nbsp;
!&nbsp;Image&nbsp;
!&nbsp;Type&nbsp;
!&nbsp;Built&nbsp;
!&nbsp;Left<br> fleet&nbsp;
!&nbsp;Notes&nbsp;
|-
|[[British Rail Class 205|205 (3H)]]
|[[File:205009 at London Victoria.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[diesel multiple unit|DMU]]
|{{nowrap|1957{{ndash}}62}}
| rowspan="2" |2004
| rowspan="2" |Replaced by [[Bombardier Turbostar|Class 171 ''Turbostar'']]
|-
|[[British Rail Class 207|207 (3D)]]
|[[File:207203 arriving at London Bridge.jpg|150px]]
|1962
|-
|rowspan=2|[[British Rail Class 313|313]]
|rowspan=2|[[File:313214_at_Seaford_(27925383045).jpg|150px]]
|rowspan=12|[[electric multiple unit|EMU]]
|rowspan=2|1976{{ndash}}77
|rowspan=2|2023<ref>{{cite tweet |author=Southern Railway |user=SouthernRailUK |number=1659653010937487374 |date=19 May 2023 |title=The last day of scheduled passenger services with 313 stock was today |access-date=23 May 2023}}</ref>
|Replaced by [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377 ''Electrostar'']]
|-
|[[File:313 Southern Coastway.png|450px]]
|-
|rowspan=2|[[British Rail Class 319|319]]
|rowspan=2|[[File:319013 at East Croydon 2.jpg|150px]]
|rowspan=2|1987
|rowspan=2|2008
|Replaced by [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377 ''Electrostar'']]
|-
|[[File:Southern Class 319.png|450px]]
|-
|rowspan=2|[[British Rail Class 350|350/1 ''Desiro'']]
|rowspan=2|[[File:Class 350 train at East Croydon - geograph.org.uk - 1532420.jpg|150px]]
|rowspan=2|2004{{ndash}}05
|rowspan=2|2009
|Subleased from [[London Midland]] in 2008 to provide cover for [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377 ''Electrostar'']] units subleased to First Capital Connect. After newer [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377 ''Electrostar'']] trains were built, these units were returned to London Midland.<br>Replaced by newer Class 377 ''Electrostar'' units.<ref name="Southern" />
|-
|[[File:London Midland Class 350-1 w-pantograph.png|alt=|450px]]
|-
|[[British Rail Class 421|421 (4CIG)]]
|[[File:1861 at Clapham Junction.JPG|150px]]
|1964{{ndash}}66
| rowspan="2" |2005
| rowspan="3" |Replaced by [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377 ''Electrostar'']]
|-
|[[British Rail Class 423|423 (4VEP)]]
|[[File:3514 at London Victoria.jpg|150px]]
|1967–71
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[British Rail Class 455|455]]
| rowspan="2" |[[File:455826_and_455_number_to_Beckenham_Junction.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" |1982{{ndash}}84
| rowspan="2" |2022
|-
|[[File:Class 455 Southern Diagram.png|450px]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[British Rail Class 456|456]]
|rowspan="2"|[[File:London Bridge station MMB 26 456009.jpg|150px]]
|rowspan="2"|1990{{ndash}}91
|rowspan="2"|2014
|Replaced by [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377/6 ''Electrostar'']]
|-
|[[File:Class 456 Southern Diagram.PNG|400px]]
|}

===Depots===
Southern's fleet is maintained at [[Brighton Lovers Walk Traction and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot|Brighton Lovers Walk]] and [[Selhurst Train and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot|Selhurst]] depots. The Gatwick Express fleet is maintained at [[Stewarts Lane]].

Light maintenance is also carried out at [[Littlehampton railway station|Littlehampton]] for the electric fleet, and [[St Leonards TMD|St Leonards]] for the class 171 fleet when on [[Marshlink line|Marshlink]] services.

==Future==
Southern, as part of its successful bid for the South Central franchise in 2009, made several commitments to improving services across the network.<ref name="franchiseannouncement" /> These included:
* Increasing the length of suburban services in South London to 10 cars between 2011 and 2013
* Increasing the service level on all routes in South London to 4 trains per hour (tph) until 23:00 each day, and the introduction of late-night services on Fridays and Saturdays
* The introduction of an hourly service on Sundays between [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]] and [[Southampton Central railway station|Southampton Central]], and an increase in the number of late-night services between Brighton and [[Worthing railway station|Worthing]]
* The introduction of late-night services on the London to [[Oxted line|Uckfield]] route
* Installation of new ticket gates at 22 stations across the network
* Increasing the number of car-parking spaces at stations by 1,000 and the number of cycle spaces by 1,500
* Cleaning and refreshing of all stations and trains on the network
* Major refurbishments to seven stations: {{stnlnk|Brighton}}, {{stnlnk|Haywards Heath}}, {{stnlnk|Hove}}, {{stnlnk|Lewes}}, {{stnlnk|Redhill}}, {{stnlnk|Three Bridges}} and {{stnlnk|Worthing}}

===Uckfield–Lewes line===
The franchise consultation paper released at the beginning of the 2009 franchising process stated that the ultimate franchise agreement would include a change mechanism to enable the DfT to incorporate additional routes into the South Central franchise, and it invited bidders to submit priced options for schemes put forward by stakeholders. One such scheme could, as indicated in the South Central Franchise Consultation Paper, be the reopening of the [[Wealden Line|Uckfield – Lewes]] line, closed in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/southcentralfranchise/southcentralfranchisecons.pdf |title = South Central Franchise Consultation Paper |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 22 May 2008 |access-date = 21 August 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131104084558/http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/southcentralfranchise/southcentralfranchisecons.pdf |archive-date = 4 November 2013 }}</ref> During the 2010s, several interested parties have been examining the possibility of reopening the line.<ref>{{Cite press release |url = http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/yourcouncil/pressoffice/pressreleases/2008/01/1733.htm |title = Lewes-Uckfield rail line: re-instatement study under way |publisher = [[East Sussex County Council]] |date = 3 January 2008 |access-date = 11 June 2009 |archive-date = 20 November 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081120154719/http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/yourcouncil/pressoffice/pressreleases/2008/01/1733.htm |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="Green signal to reopen rail line">{{Cite news |url = http://www.theargus.co.uk/archive/2006/06/21/6813616.Green_signal_to_reopen_rail_line/?ref=arc |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131102213016/http://www.theargus.co.uk/archive/2006/06/21/6813616.Green_signal_to_reopen_rail_line/?ref=arc |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2 November 2013 |title = Green signal to reopen rail line |newspaper = The Argus |location = Brighton |date = 21 June 2006 |access-date = 7 July 2013}}</ref>

===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 />

==Rolling out of smartcards==
{{update section|date=July 2016}}
Southern was criticised in January 2007 for not wishing to introduce [[Oyster card (pay as you go) on National Rail|Oyster Pay As You Go]] on its London routes, stating that it was not financially viable. In 2007, Southern introduced [[Oyster card|Oyster]] on its Watford Junction to Clapham Junction route,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.southernrailway.com/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/oyster-card/ |title = Oyster card |access-date = 11 October 2009 |publisher = Southern |archive-date = 9 June 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110609224850/http://www.southernrailway.com/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/oyster-card/ |url-status = live }}</ref> and the company later agreed in principle to the introduction of Oyster across its network,<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.standard.co.uk/news/oyster-cards-for-all-trains-7182163.html |title = Oyster cards for ALL trains |date = 31 January 2007 |newspaper = Evening Standard|location=London |access-date = 4 April 2018 |archive-date = 26 August 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160826022532/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/oyster-cards-for-all-trains-7182163.html |url-status = live }}</ref> but did not give any firm timescale, managing director Chris Burchell saying <blockquote>"There are still a number of outstanding issues that need to be discussed with TfL, but we do not believe these will prevent us making PAYG a reality on our network. We look forward to discussions with TfL on how we can make this happen as soon as possible for our passengers."<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.1165315.0.southern_say_yes_to_oyster.php |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080228090134/http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.1165315.0.southern_say_yes_to_oyster.php |url-status = dead |archive-date = 28 February 2008 |title = Southern say yes to Oyster |date = 3 February 2007 |access-date = 11 June 2009 |newspaper = Wimbledon Gazette }}</ref></blockquote> In its successful franchise bid in 2009, Southern said it was committed to rolling out Oyster Pay As You Go in the London area, but also that such a move was subject to industry agreement.<ref name="franchiseannouncement" /> Since 2 January 2010, Oyster Pay As You Go has been valid on all its London routes, along with most other train services in the London area. In addition, Oyster is valid on Southern services beyond the Greater London boundary as far as Epsom, Epsom Downs, Tattenham Corner, Upper Warlingham, Caterham and Gatwick Airport.

===The Key===
{{Main|The Key (smartcard)}}
In 2012, Southern became the first rail company in England to use the [[ITSO Ltd|ITSO card]] on its network. [[The Key (smartcard)|The Key]] is a smartcard similar to [[Transport for London]]'s [[Oyster card]]. Tickets of various types can be purchased for the smartcard at ticket vending machines across the majority of the GTR network, except within Oyster-capable travel areas, as well as online (season tickets only).

Three forms of Key exist: child, adult, and staff. All child smartcards need a photograph, which is printed onto the card, as well as proof of age while registering. The Key can be de-activated and the tickets transferred to a new card sent out in the post if the smartcard is reported as lost, stolen or faulty.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title = The key smartcard {{!}} Southern Railway |url = https://www.southernrailway.com/help-and-support/contact-us/faqs/the-key-smartcard |access-date = 3 May 2023 |website = southernrailway.com}}</ref> Staff smartcards are only issued to employees of GTR, and offer unlimited travel across all of GTR's network.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

The Key also has a pay-as-you-go feature called [[keyGo]]. With this, customers can tap in and out freely within the keyGo area, and the cheapest combination of tickets from the entire day's taps are automatically calculated at the end of the railway day and automatically charged to a linked payment card. keyGo is also valid on Brighton & Hove buses and Metrobus services within certain areas. Bus journeys are charged at the single, day zonal, day network or Plusbus rates as appropriate.<ref>{{Cite web |title = KeyGo {{!}} Southern Railway |url = https://www.southernrailway.com/tickets/the-key-smartcard/keygo |access-date = 3 May 2023 |website = southernrailway.com}}</ref>

The Key can be used on all National Rail services where tickets are available for purchase on smartcards.<ref name=":1" />

==See also==
{{Portal|London transport}}
* [[Rail transport in Great Britain]]
* [[Urban rail in the United Kingdom]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Southern (train operating company)}}
* {{Official website}}

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{{s-bef|before=[[Connex South Central]]<br />South Central franchise}}
{{s-ttl|title=Operator of South Central franchise|years=2001–2009}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=Southern<br />South Central (incl Gatwick Express) franchise}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Gatwick Express]]<br />Gatwick Express franchise}}
{{s-ttl|title=Operator of Gatwick Express franchise
|years=2008–2009}}
{{s-bef|before=Southern<br />South Central franchise}}
{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=Operator of South Central (incl Gatwick Express) franchise|years=2009–2015}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Govia Thameslink Railway]]<br />Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise}}
{{s-bef|before=Southern<br />Gatwick Express franchise}}
{{S-bef|before=Southern<br />South Central (incl Gatwick Express) franchise}}
{{S-ttl|title=Sub-brand of Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise|years=2015–present }}
{{S-aft|after='''Incumbent'''}}
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{{UK TOCs|current|state=collapsed}}
{{Transport in London}}
{{Govia}}

[[Category:Airport rail links in London]]
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[[Category:Railway companies established in 2001]]
[[Category:Railway operators in London]]
[[Category:Rail transport in East Sussex]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Kent]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Surrey]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Train operating companies in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in England]]