C2C
C2C is a train operating company that is part of the National Express Group. It provides train services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line from Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London to east London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway area of southern Essex including Basildon, Chafford Hundred (for Lakeside Shopping Centre), Tilbury and Southend-on-Sea. This route is known as the Essex Thameside franchise.
The main route from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness via Basildon is 40 mi (64 km) long, and the fastest timetabled journey time from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness is 58 minutes. The line currently has a maximum speed limit of 75 mph (121 km/h), although the Class 357 Electrostar electrical multiple unit trains which run on it are capable of a maximum speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).
Before July 2002, it traded under the name LTS Rail. Following problems with the East Coast franchise, the Department for Transport has indicated that it will be "unacceptable" for National Express to continue to operate the C2C franchise. Instead of terminating the contract immediately, it will be allowed to run until 31 May 2011 and will be put out to tender, with National Express not allowed to rebid. National Express Group has indicated it would like to continue operating the franchise.
Franchise
C2C's franchise was one of the first three in the UK to be awarded, beginning on May 26, 1996 for a term of 15 years at an average annual subsidy of £18.4 million, and will expire on May 31, 2011.
It was initially awarded to Prism Rail in December 1995 and was marketed as LTS Rail. It was due to begin operation in February 1996 but the LTS Rail franchise was not completed because of allegations of ticketing and settlement irregularities.
It was re-tendered in March 1996 and awarded in May 1996 to Prism Rail. Prism Rail was purchased by National Express in September 2000 and the franchise was rebranded as C2C in 2002. The name could be conceived to represent city to coast or "capital to coast", reflecting the nature of the route, or "commitment to customers".
Tickets
Tickets for trains between Fenchurch Street and Upminster are inter-available with London Underground services between Tower Hill and Upminster; and are sold at standard Transport for London rates. All other journeys are priced by C2C. Under this arrangement Oyster card pay-as-you-go has been available since 2004 from Fenchurch Street, Liverpool Street and Upminster. It was extended to Rainham in 2008 and was extended beyond Travelcard Zone 6 to Grays January 2010. Oyster card purchase and top up is however not possible at stations which are not also London Underground stations (Chafford Hundred, Grays, Purfleet etc.)