Promises for new rail franchise

The new franchise will include services currently run by Southern

Less overcrowding for rail passengers in Surrey, Sussex and south London has been promised with the announcement of a new franchise.

Rail minister Tom Harris said there would be 10% more capacity across the South Central franchise, due to start in September 2009.

The franchise will consist of services currently run by Southern and will include the Gatwick Express.

It will also take in the Tonbridge to Redhill route now run by Southeastern.

The new franchise, for which expressions of interest were invited on Thursday, will run for five years and 10 months.

The government said there will be an extra 106 carriages across the franchise area and longer trains operating on south London routes.

Passengers central

As well as extra trains between Brighton and London Victoria announced last September as part of changes to the Gatwick Express service, there will be at least two extra trains between Redhill and London in peak hours.

Later services will operate from central London to Sutton, Tulse Hill and Crystal Palace and on the Uckfield line.

There will be a new Sunday service between Brighton and Southampton and about 1,000 more car parking and 1,000 cycle spaces at stations.

Smartcards, including Oyster cards, will be used across the franchise area.

"Passengers are central to our proposals," said Mr Harris.

"That is why we are proposing 10% extra capacity across the South Central routes, better evening and weekend services and more people using smartcards.

"I expect the winner of this competition to tackle delays and cancellations as well as help deliver major projects in London that will benefit passengers for years to come."

The invitation to tender will be issued in autumn 2008, with the successful bidder expected to be announced in early summer 2009.