Essex Thameside

Essex Thameside

Most services operate from Fenchurch Street in London
Current operator	c2c
Main Route(s)	London, Tilbury and Southend line
Stations called at	28
Stations operated	26
Dates of operation	26 May 1996–8 November 2014 9 November 2014 – 20 July 2025
Technical
Length	128.7 km (80.0 mi)[citation needed]
Other
Website	www.dft.gov.uk/publications/essex-thameside-2013/
Route map

Essex Thameside is a railway contract, and former franchise, for the provision of passenger services on the London, Tilbury and Southend line in east London and south Essex. It was formed on 26 May 1996, following the privatisation of British Rail and the franchise was originally called London, Tilbury and Southend. The only train operating company on the line to date has been c2c. Following a number of temporary extensions caused by problems with the rail franchising system, c2c was awarded a new 15-year franchise which commenced on 9 November 2014.

As part of an abandoned round of re-franchising, bids were received from the shortlisted parties in September 2012 with a winner expected to be announced in January 2013. In October 2012 the government announced the refranchising process would be put on hold, pending a review of the franchising system and the failures of the InterCity West Coast franchising process.^[1] In January 2013 the government announced a revised invitation to tender would be issued in summer 2013 with an interim contract for up to two years to be negotiated with National Express. In March 2013 the Secretary of State for Transport announced the franchise would again be extended until 13 September 2014.^[2] A further extension of up to eight weeks became necessary following a delay in awarding the franchise. In June 2014 c2c were awarded a new franchise to commence in November 2014.^[3]

In February 2017 National Express sold c2c to Trenitalia.^[4][5][6][7]