Thameslink and Great Northern
 
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| Overview | |
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| Franchise(s) | Part of Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern 14 Sep 2014 - 2021 |
| Main region(s) | London, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Sussex |
| Other region(s) | Norfolk, Surrey, Kent |
| Stations called at | 129 (approx) |
| Stations operated | 77 |
| Route km operated | 778.9 |
| National Rail abbreviation | TL (Thameslink) GN (Great Northern) |
| Parent company | Govia Thameslink Railway |
| Website | www.thameslinkrailway.com |
Thameslink and Great Northern are the brand names used by the Govia Thameslink Railway train operating company on the Thameslink and Great Northern routes of the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise, previously operated by First Capital Connect.
Thameslink and Great Northern services were merged into one franchise in 2006 due to the Thameslink Programme. In 2012, it was announced that services of First Capital Connect, Southern (with Gatwick Express) and some Southeastern routes would be merged into a single franchise for the expanding Thameslink network. The Invitation to Tender was to have been issued in October 2012, with the successful bidder announced in Spring 2013 and TSGN originally due to start in September 2013. However, due to the collapse of the InterCity West Coast re-franchising process, all franchising competitions were frozen until January 2013. In January 2013 the government announced that it would extend the contract until March 2014, intending to negotiate with FirstGroup to operate the franchise on a management contract for up to two years.
In March 2013 the Secretary of State for Transport announced that the franchise would again be extended, until 13 September 2014, and that the future franchise would be a management-style contract due to the level of investment and change on the route. In September 2013 a revised invitation to tender was issued.Govia Thameslink Railway was awarded the franchise on 23 May 2014.
On 14 September 2014, Thameslink and Great Northern took over from First Capital Connect, serving 122 stations and operating a fleet of 226 trains. In December 2014, full control was taken of the Sevenoaks Thameslink service (this service was previously jointly operated with Southeastern).
On 21 January 2016 Transport for London announced that it intends to take over the London suburban parts of the franchise in 2021, to form a new suburban metro service.
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