We are pleased to announce that Govia, our owning Group’s joint venture with Keolis (Go-Ahead 65%, Keolis 35%), has been shortlisted by the Department for Transport to bid for the South Eastern franchise.
Govia will be aiming to retain the franchise that it has operated, as Southeastern, since 2006. Over this time, Southeastern passenger numbers have grown by 40% and some 500 additional weekday services have been added.
In 2009 we introduced the UK’s first domestic high speed service, significantly reducing journey times to London and supporting the economic regeneration of the region. Southeastern also played a key role in the success of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games’ transport plan, carrying 20% more passengers than usual.
Since the start of the franchise, £120m of partnership funding has been invested in station improvements and Govia has introduced a range of other passenger service improvements such as 24-hour customer service and social media updates, smartcard ticketing, and, since 2014, an additional 300 customer-facing employees.
In a press statement, Managing Director David Statham said:
“We are proud of our record and look forward to the opportunity to deliver continuous improvements to rail services in the South East. Since 2006, we have introduced 500 extra services, as well as Britain’s first domestic high speed service, slashing journey times from Kent to London.
“Improving passengers’ experience is our absolute priority and in the last three years alone we have invested more than £70m in areas they have told us matter to them most, including upgraded station facilities, better information and more customer-facing staff. Our recent passenger satisfaction scores show that people are noticing the improvements, but we know there is still more to do and we welcome the opportunity to continue to build on the progress that has been made.”
Southeastern stakeholder forum, London 19 June
Many thanks to those of you who attended our stakeholder forum at the Royal United Services Institute in Whitehall on such a sweltering hot day. The forum, chaired by Linda McCord from Transport Focus heard updates from Southeastern, Network Rail and the Thameslink team. Attendees were set a table top exercise asking for their priorities from Southeastern services over the next 12 months and for the next ten years.
Over the next 12 months, you told us you wanted to see:
· Current performance maintained
· Increased capacity
· Speedier compensation
· More robust revenue protection
· Improved functionality on ticket vending machines
· Flexible ticketing
· Wi Fi available on trains
· Reduced dwell time at stations
For the 10 year longer term you wanted
· No “skip stop” at smaller stations
· New trains
· More seats on trains
· Better station facilities
· Wi Fi at stations
· Better integration with local bus services
· Better connections to Gatwick
· The high speed service extended to Hastings
· No reduction in service to smaller stations
· Step free access extended to all stations
· More capacity on the high speed service
· Investment to take account of housing development
· Service frequency increased on the Greenwich line
· More car parking at stations
Feedback from those who attended has been positive, but if you have any views on how our forums might be improved, do let us know.
Best wishes
Mike Gibson
Public Affairs Manager
Southeastern
mike.gibson@southeasternrailway.co.uk
0207 620 5430
07768 293 651