Southern (train operating company)

Southern is the trading name of New Southern Railway Ltd, a train operating company in the United Kingdom operating passenger services in south London, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Kent and Hertfordshire. Southern is part of Govia who also own London Midland Railway, operators of West Midlands franchise, and Southeastern, operators of the Integrated Kent Franchise.

History
Govia was awarded the South Central franchise in October 2000 after Connex, the previous operator, lost the franchise due to poor performance. They began operating the franchise in 2001 as South Central until 30 May 2004 when the company was rebranded Southern after sufficient new stock was delivered.

From 22 June 2008 Southern has also operated Gatwick Express as part of a plan to increase capacity on the London Victoria to Brighton line and in preparation for the new South Central franchise which will begin in September 2009. Govia are one of the bidders for the new franchise along with Stagecoach Group, National Express and NedRailways.

Routes
Southern operates a large network over the South Central division of the former British Rail Southern Region. Southern services from London run from either London Victoria or London Bridge.

Mainline services

 * Gatwick Express
 * Brighton
 * Horsham - Bognor Regis/Portsmouth Harbour or Southampton.
 * Gatwick Airport - Hove - Littlehampton/Eastbourne or Ore.

Suburban services

 * Denmark Hill - London Bridge.
 * Crystal Palace - London Bridge.
 * Crystal Palace - West Croydon.
 * Sutton - Epsom - Dorking.
 * Norbury - Sutton.
 * Norbury - Caterham.
 * Norbury - Epsom.
 * Norbury - Epsom Downs.
 * Mitcham Junction - Epsom.
 * Oxted - East Grinstead

Services from London Bridge

 * Crystal Palace - London Victoria.
 * Denmark Hill - London Victoria.
 * Birbeck - Beckenham Junction.
 * Caterham.
 * Crystal Palace - Smitham
 * Oxted - Uckfield
 * Sydenham - West Croydon - Sutton.
 * Tattenham Corner.
 * Norbury - West Croydon
 * Horsham

Local services
Brighton - Seaford. Brighton - Hove. Brighton - Lewes. Brighton - West Worthing. Brighton - Ashford Internatioanl (Marshlink). Brighton - Southampton Central/Portsmouth Harbour. Brighton - Kensington Olympia - Watford Junction. Portsmouth & Southsea - Littlehampton. Littlehampton - Bognor Regis. Barnham - Bognor Regis. Tunbridge Wells - Gatwick Airport - Horsham.