23/05/2014

Govia To Run New Thameslink Franchise

The Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) railway franchise is to be run by Govia, following a seven-year contract deal that saw rival company FirstGroup miss out.

The contract includes the construction of nearly 1,400 new carriages and the improvement of services and capacity to destinations including Brighton, King's Lynn, Cambridge, Peterborough, Bedford, Luton and Gatwick.

The new service is due to be fully operational by the end of 2018 and will also include increased staffing and stations, as well as a "simplified" ticket structure.

The franchise will carry more than 280 million passengers annually.

Govia is 65% owned by the Go-Ahead Group and 35% by French firm Keolis.

Rail minister Stephen Hammond said: "A world-class railway is a vital part of our long-term economic plan. That's great news for businesses and the hundreds of thousands of passengers who use these vital services every day."

(CVS/IT)

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