Govia
{{Short description|British transport company}}
{{about|the United Kingdom transport company|the form of free-flow tolling for Queensland Motorways in Australia formerly known as "go via"|Linkt}}{{For|the Antigua and Barbuda senator|Shenella Mary Shadida Govia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Govia Limited
| logo = Govia logo.svg
| type = Limited company
| traded_as =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1996|11|14|df=y}}
| location = Newcastle upon Tyne
| key_people =
| area_served = United Kingdom
| industry = Public transport
| products = Train services
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees =
| owner = Go-Ahead Group (65%)
Keolis (35%)
| homepage = {{URL|https://govia.info}}
}}
Govia Limited{{Cite web |date=1996-11-15 |title=Govia Limited overview - Find and update company information - Gov.uk |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03278419 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Companies House |language=en}} is a transport company based in the United Kingdom. It was formed in November 1996 as a joint venture between Go-Ahead Group (65%) and Keolis (35%) to bid for rail franchises during the privatisation of British Rail.
History
File:Hugh_llewelyn_377_135_(6621240269).jpg Class 377 at Battersea Park station in June 2010]]
File:Javelin train at St Pancras International by interbeat.jpg Class 395 Javelin at St Pancras in August 2012]]
File:319004 Thameslink train at St Albans.jpg Class 319 at St Albans station in November 2014]]
Established in 1986, the Go-Ahead Group has its roots in North East England where it was formed as Go-Ahead Northern during the de-regulation of the bus industry. Keolis is the biggest private operator of public transport in France and a major worldwide operator of transport services.
As part of the privatisation of British Rail, the Thames Trains franchise was awarded to Victory Rail Holdings,[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03147927 Companies House extract company no 3147927] Victory Rail Holdings Limited a company owned by Go-Ahead (65%) and some ex British Rail managers (35%), with operations commencing on 13 October 1996.[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1997pres/ar1997.pdf Go-Ahead annual report 1997] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123165216/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1997pres/ar1997.pdf |date=23 November 2012 }} Go-Ahead Group plc 28 June 1997 Go-Ahead bought the remaining shares it did not own in June 1998.[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1998pres/ar1998.pdf Go-Ahead annual report 1998] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123170200/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1998pres/ar1998.pdf |date=23 November 2012 }} Go-Ahead Group plc 27 June 1998
Go-Ahead formed a joint venture with Keolis and were awarded the Thameslink franchise with operations commencing on 2 March 1997. Upon being retendered, the franchise passed to First Capital Connect on 1 April 2006. Govia also unsuccessfully bid for the Regional Railways North West and ScotRail franchises.
In August 2001, Govia commenced operating the South Central franchise adopting the name Southern.[http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/2009news/2009-06-09.aspx Retention of South Central franchise] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123140524/http://go-ahead.com/media/news/2009news/2009-06-09.aspx |date=23 November 2012 }} Go-Ahead 9 June 2009[http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?ClientId=202&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=402997&SubjectId=36 More frequent and more secure rail services for London and the South East] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619055657/http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?ClientId=202&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=402997&SubjectId=36 |date=19 June 2009 }} Department for Transport 9 June 2009 In April 2006, Southeastern operated the South Eastern franchise. In November 2007, Govia commenced operating the London Midland franchise and in May 2014, the Govia Thameslink Railway franchise.[http://www.govia.info/about-us About Us] Govia[https://www.bbc.com/news/business-27534731 Govia wins Thameslink rail franchise] BBC News 23 May 2014 Govia unsuccessfully bid for the Northern and TransPennine Express franchises in 2015.[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/shortlist-for-northern-and-transpennine-express-rail-operators-revealed Shortlist for Northern and Transpennine Express rail operators revealed] Department for Transport 19 August 2014
Current operations
Govia currently operate one franchise:[http://www.govia.info/our-companies Our Companies] Govia
- Govia Thameslink Railway[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/07934306 Companies House extract company no 7934306] Govia Thameslink Railway Limited operating the Thameslink, Southern, Gatwick Express & Great Northern franchise under the Southern, Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Great Northern brands from East and West Sussex, Surrey and parts of Kent and Hampshire, along with lines from Bedford, Peterborough and Kings Lynn (via Cambridge) to London (expires April 2028).{{Cite web |title=National Rail Contract awarded to Govia Thameslink Railway |url=https://newsroom.go-ahead.com/news/national-rail-contract-awarded-to-govia-thameslink-railway |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=Go Ahead News |date=25 March 2022 |language=en-GB}}
Previous operations
File:London Midland Class 350, 350368, Kidsgrove railway station (geograph 4525118).jpg Class 350 at Kidsgrove station in June 2015]]
Govia previously ran rail franchises through the following companies:
- Thameslink from March 1997 until March 2006.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070310142714/http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=181549&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False Department for Transport Announces Winner of Thameslink/GN Franchise] Department for Transport Press Release 13 December 2005
- Southern[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/06574965 Companies House extract company no 6574965] Southern Railway Limited operating as Southern and Gatwick Express from August 2001 and June 2008 respectively until joining Govia Thameslink Railway in July 2015.
- Southeastern operated the South Eastern franchise[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/04860660 Companies House extract company no 4860660] London & South Eastern Railway Limited from Kent and East Sussex to London from April 2006 until October 2021{{Cite web|date=28 September 2021|title=Southeastern stripped of franchise over undeclared funding|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-58716625|access-date=28 September 2021|website=bbc.co.uk|language=en}}
- London Midland[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/05814584 Companies House extract company no 5814584] London & Birmingham Railway Limited on the West Coast Main Line and in the West Midlands from November 2007 until December 2017.
Other operations
The partners have also bid for other franchises separately. Keolis held a 45% shareholding in former train operating company First TransPennine Express since February 2004. In 2012, it bid for the InterCity West Coast franchise in partnership with SNCF. Go-Ahead bid for the Greater Anglia franchise.[http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/intercity-west-coast-franchise/franchisebidders.pdf Shortlisted Bidders For Greater Anglia And Intercity West Coast Rail Franchises] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606094818/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/intercity-west-coast-franchise/franchisebidders.pdf |date=2013-06-06 }} Department for Transport 24 March 2011
The partners also lodged an unsuccessful bid for the TransPennine Express franchise in 2015, but this was not being done through Govia, with Keolis holding a majority shareholding.
{{Clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.govia.info/ Company website]
- {{OpenCorp|Govia}}
{{Go-Ahead}}
{{Keolis}}