The new franchise will retain the name “Southern” and will see a seamless transition on 20 September 2009 and will run until 25 July 2015. There will be a two year extension available at the discretion of the DfT subject to performance.

Keith Ludeman, Chairman of Govia said: -

“I am delighted that the DfT has retained Govia to operate one of the UK’s most important and operationally complex rail franchises.

“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. This has established an excellent platform from which we can now launch the new franchise, further improve service quality and expand and grow the passenger market.

Govia’s bid for the franchise highlighted the following proposals and 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 and a significant increase in capacity on peak time Metro arrivals and departures into London Victoria and London Bridge, and peak time services into Brighton.
  
• 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. In addition, staffing at almost all Greater London stations to be extended to provide cover from the first to the last service.
  
• 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, making it easier to use the Southern network: over 1000 more car parking and 1500 secure cycle parking spaces to be installed; £3m to be invested to provide real-time information at every station, new help points to be installed at 40 stations and information about connecting bus services provided at 35 stations. Thirty station travel plans to be developed and their recommendations implemented.
  
• 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. Similar to Oyster, Smartmedia will make ticket buying easier and enable automatic top-ups for season tickets at 26 stations outside London and 18 stations within London.
  
• 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. These improvements will be supported by a team of 100 Revenue Protection Officers and the Safer Travel Team (who will also have revenue protection responsibilities).
  
• 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, supported by comprehensive customer service training for all front line staff.