Case study
South Eastern Franchise Bid
Go Ahead Group for Department for Transport
Project Overview
The South Eastern Franchise operates passenger rail services in South East England and it is the key operator of commuter and regional services in South East London and Kent.
Approach
Responsibility for the Train Services Delivery Plan, which represents one of the most complex train networks in the UK. The franchise serves three main routes:
South Eastern Main Line from London Cannon Street and London Charing Cross to Dover via Sevenoaks
Chatham Main Line between London Victoria and Dover/Ramsgate via the Medway towns
High Speed 1 from London St Pancras
The timetable is composed of Mainline and Metro services, consisting of 29 service groups that serve six London termini and closely interweave with Thameslink services.
The role required a thorough understanding of the complexities of train service delivery and constraints of the third rail system in use
Undertook extensive analysis of passenger crowding and fleet types on the network, to inform train service proposals for the tender
Close working with the Timetable Specification team throughout timetable development was essential to produce the written submission
Worked closely with the rolling stock and performance workstreams due to the interconnected nature of these areas
Results
The tender was submitted on time in February 2018. The DfT subsequently cancelled the tender and the existing contract was extended, incorporating many of the proposals submitted in the tender. Subsequently, the new timetable was rolled out in May 2019, along with further changes to prepare for the introduction of the Class 707 fleet on the Dartford, Sevenoaks and Hayes routes in Autumn 2021.