The new franchise, which will retain the name “Southern”, will start on 20 September 2009 and will run for five years ten months until 25 July 2015. The final year is subject to performance and there is a two year extension available at the discretion of the DfT. “This is a commercially robust rail network which we know well and have operated since 2001. During this period, Govia has overseen a £1 billion investment programme in rolling stock, depots, stations and staff,” said Keith Ludeman, Chairman of Govia.

“Chris Burchell will continue to be the Managing Director of Southern, and will lead the team into and during the new franchise. Chris and his team will work closely with the DfT, Transport for London and other stakeholders to oversee a period of significant change on the network whilst implementing our innovative and value-for-money franchise plans designed to grow capacity and improve passenger perceptions of service and security.

“The new franchise will deliver a comprehensive package of benefits to passengers, including train, station and security investment, improved operational performance and innovative retailing.”

Govia’s bid for the franchise features the following benefits for passengers:

• Additional capacity: an additional 10% carrying capacity across the network by December 2013, including the extension of eight car trains to ten cars on key Metro routes.
  
• Further investment in trains and stations: a £76m investment programme including £23m of interior improvements to trains and £28m to improve facilities at stations, targeting those areas of greatest benefit to passengers.
  
• Focus on punctuality: further focus on maintaining and improving the current record levels of punctuality performance through a period of significant change arising from the Thameslink programme and other major initiatives.
  
• Improved passenger access and integration at stations: over 1000 more car parking and 1500 secure cycle parking spaces to be installed; £3m to be invested to provide real-time multi-modal rail/bus travel information at 35 stations including Crawley, Falmer, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath, Shoreham-by-Sea and Worthing.
  
• Improved security: 100% of trains and stations to have CCTV and passenger information systems by 2011. A new 38-strong Safer Travel Team to be in place by Spring 2010, to include British Transport Police and Rail Enforcement Officers.
  
• Easier ticket buying: a £3m investment in 120 new ticket machines by early 2012 plus the introduction of a new Smartmedia system by early 2012.
  
• Enhanced revenue protection: new automatic ticket barriers at 22 stations, supplemented by additional stations funded by the DfT to increase the number of gated stations from 28 to 49.
  
• Improved overall passenger experience: introduction of a new Service Quality Management System to monitor, measure and improve every aspect of a passenger’s journey with Southern.

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