Network SouthCentral
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British Rail Board |
Network SouthCentral (NSC)
Origins
In the lead up to the privatisation of British Rail, Network SouthEast was divided into a series of shadow franchises. Network SouthCentral was formed in February 1994.[2]
Geographical Area
Network SouthCentral covered most of
In London, the company served two major mainline terminals;
The main former Network SouthEast "sub-sectors" that came under the jurisdiction of NSC were the Sussex Coast,
Stock
During the short time in which NSC existed as an active
Class | Image | Qty. | Power | Carriages | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
09 | 2 | Diesel Shunter |
N/A | NSC owned a couple Class 09/0 locomotives for shunting and marshalling stock at Brighton and Selhurst carriage sidings and depots | |
205 | DEMU | 2 or 3 | |||
207 | DEMU | 3 | |||
319 | EMU | 4 | [3] | ||
411 | EMU | 4 | |||
421 | EMU | 4 | |||
423 | EMU | 4 | |||
455 | EMU | 4 | |||
456 | EMU | 2 | |||
457 | 1 | EMU | 4 |
Livery
NSC branding was standard Network SouthEast lettering and design, but with the word "SouthCentral" in dark blue replacing the word "SouthEast" on leaflets, platforms and stock. The Network SouthEast "rhombus" red, blue and grey logo remained part of NSC's corporate image. Not all stock received NSC branding—the chief units to receive such treatment were NSC's express units—the Class 319s, 421s and 422s in the main being treated. As under NSE, the main corporate colour of Network SouthCentral was red, which was applied to all manner of things from rubbish bins to lamp-posts.
The Cowden rail accident
The only major accident that occurred on the NSC network was the Cowden rail crash when, on 15 October 1994, the driver of a Class 205 failed to see a red signal (this was believed to have been caused by fog), and drove the unit on to a single track section of the Uckfield line, where it collided with a train travelling in the opposite direction. Five people, including the erroneous driver were killed, and thirteen more were severely injured.
Buyout
On 13 October 1996, the franchise was privatised with Connex South Central taking over.[4][5][6] The first unit to lose its NSC/NSE colours was 456024, which officially launched the new franchise.[7]
References
- ^ Companies House extract company # 3010919 New Southern Railway Limited formerly Connex South Central Limited formerly Network SouthCentral Limited
- Rail Magazine. No. 221. 2 March 1994. p. 20.
- ^ "Class 319". sremg.org.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "GCEA confirmed as NSC winner" Rail Privatisation News issue 27 4 April 1996 page 4
- Rail Magazine. No. 277. 24 April 1996. p. 8.
- ^ "Network SouthCentral sold to French Group". The Railway Magazine. No. 1142. June 1996. p. 6.
- Rail Magazine. No. 289. 9 October 1996. p. 11.