Govia Thameslink Railway

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is the train operating company that operates the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise. They run the Thameslink and Great Northern services, formerly operated by First Capital Connect. Southern and Gatwick Express services will join the network in July 2015 and their brand identities will remain. The merger will create the largest franchise in terms of passengers, staff and fleet. GTR is part of Govia, a joint venture between Go-Ahead Group (65%) and Keolis (35%).

Thameslink and Great Northern services


Govia Thameslink Railway has operated Thameslink and Great Northern services since 14 September 2014. Thameslink is a 68-station main-line route running 225 km north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport, with a suburban loop serving Sutton, Mitcham and and on weekdays a suburban line via Catford and Bromley South to Sevenoaks. Great Northern is the name of the suburban rail services run on the southern end of Britain's East Coast Main Line and associated branches. Services operate to or from London King's Cross and Moorgate in London. Destinations include Hertford North, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Peterborough, Cambridge and King's Lynn.

Southern and Gatwick Express services


The Southern and Gatwick Express brands will join Govia Thameslink Railway in July 2015. Southern routes run from London Victoria and London Bridge through the South London suburbs of Battersea, Norbury, Peckham, Sydenham, Crystal Palace, Norwood, Croydon, Streatham, Purley and Sutton to towns surrounding London like Caterham, Epsom and Tadworth. Further afield, Southern also serve Redhill, Tonbridge, Uckfield, East Grinstead, Gatwick Airport, Brighton, Ashford (Kent), Worthing, Hastings, Portsmouth, Eastbourne, Horsham, Southampton, Littlehampton and Bognor Regis. Additionally, Southern run West London route services from Milton Keynes to South Croydon via Watford and Clapham Junction. Since 2009, Southern has operated the Gatwick Express service running from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport.