First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect (FCC) is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006. It is owned by FirstGroup and combines the service on the cross-London Thameslink railway line between Brighton and Bedford with services along the East Coast Main Line from King's Cross and Moorgate to Peterborough, Cambridge, and King's Lynn formerly operated by WAGN, often referred to as Great Northern. FirstGroup is in the process of overhauling the trains with new liveries and refreshed interiors as well as an £8 million programme of upgrades for several major stations. The full term of the franchise is for nine years until 2015, but this depends on meeting performance targets at the end of the fourth year, which will give an automatic two-year extension, and an extension for up to three years after the sixth year at the discretion of the DfT.
The Thameslink and WAGN franchises were amalgamated in preparation for the Thameslink Programme (formerly Thameslink 2000), which will increase capacity on the Thameslink route and allow trains from King's Lynn, Cambridge and Peterborough to run via Thameslink. On 24 July 2007 the Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly, formally announced that the Government was fully committed to funding the Thameslink Programme. Since the planning permission and legal powers associated with the project have already been granted, the project is now clear to proceed.
News
In the early part of 2007 FCC conducted a study and undertook consultation on options for increasing the capacity of services to Peterborough and Cambridge. The final recommendations involve lengthening four peak services from 8 to 12 carriages from May 2009, and adding or removing a small number of stops to balance loads between trains. 1,779 more seats have been provided during the morning peak and 2,490 during the evening peak, significantly reducing the number of rush hour commuters unable to find a seat.
On 19 June 2008 FCC started testing a Class 377 Electrostar train in anticipation of the introduction of 23 x 4-car units on the Bedford to Brighton route in March the following year. The Electrostar train started non-passenger operation for driver training, signal testing, gauge clearance, platform staff training and validating on-board passenger information. Other technical on-board and track tests also took place. The trains are part of the £5.5 billion Thameslink improvement programme. The first 377 (a unit borrowed from Southern) came into service on 19 March 2009.
In 2008, First Capital Connect opened three new training facilities. The old Red Star parcels area in Bedford station was re-developed by Martin Gregory, IS Retail Manager and Richard Farish, Compliance Manager as part of their Leadership Horizons project, In Kentish Town, a derelict station building was converted into new training rooms to deliver induction, customer service and revenue protection training to new recruits. It will also offer management development programmes and safety specific training to First Capital Connect’s 2,150 staff. The centre will be able to run in-house BTEC & NVQ programmes.
In Hornsey, Sir Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive of FirstGroup officially opened the Performance and Training Academy, and Simulator Centre. First Capital Connect invested £1.2m in the Academy that will be used to teach the new drivers required for the Thameslink Programme and help support the company's existing team of approximately 700 drivers. The Simulator Centre includes a 319 train simulator replicating the train on the Bedford to Brighton route, and the second, a 365 train simulator as seen on the Great Northern route.
Criticism
Angry commuters have started a petition on the Prime Minister's website to end First Capital Connect's franchise. Other people have asked for a full enquiry into the service, while Lord Adonis, the former Secretary of State for Transport, described the service offered by FCC on its Thameslink route as "shoddy" and "very substandard", and that if improvements were not made the company could be stripped of its franchise.
In its Autumn 2009 National Passenger Survey, Passenger Focus stated FCC had the lowest overall satisfaction rating of any UK train operator, at 75%.
Overcrowding
First Capital Connect has been criticised for running some of the country's most over-crowded trains; the 7.15am service from Cambridge to King's Cross frequently has 76 people standing for every 100 seated. This situation accepted by FCC itself: "We recognise that overcrowding is the biggest issue affecting our customers. This is at an unacceptable level on some of our services". From 27 May 2009, extra carriages mean that this will now become a 12-car train rather than an 8.
Fare Rises
Since taking over the franchise, First Capital Connect have also faced criticism in a number of areas for apparently putting profits ahead of passengers. Regulated fares have continued to rise at above inflation. In January 2007, regulated fares increased by an average of 3.5% and unregulated fares by 4.3%. In January 2008 both regulated and unregulated fares went up by an average of 4.8%. And most recently, in January 2009, fares rose by an average of 6% for regulated fares, and 9% for unregulated fares.
Like First Great Western services from Paddington, First Capital Connect introduced in mid 2006 peak time evening tickets for northbound travel out of London. Previously passengers who purchased an off-peak travel card were able to travel on any train after the morning peak had finished at 09.30. Now passengers can no longer use an off-peak ticket for trains leaving London stations between 16.30 and 19.01. Passengers who want to use these peak service trains will need to pay an additional charge to travel. The evening peak does not affect southbound travel. This was introduced due to severe peak overcrowding. A full review of Evening Peak Restrictions is planned when First Capital Connect receives all of its additional rolling stock.
Students at some sixth-form colleges were hit by price increases of over £300 per annum, when First Capital Connect replaced a discount scheme introduced by previous franchise holders WAGN and Thameslink, with its own 'Student Connect' scheme. The level of discount is greatly reduced, and although in theory the scheme is fairer, in practice many students and parents were left out of pocket.
Charges
As well the increase in charges for rail travel, passengers are facing an increase in charges in several other areas. Car parking charges, which are not regulated by the passenger watchdog, have seen rises significantly above the rate of inflation for the past few years. St Albans city station has seen a rise in the daily parking charge from £4.20 in 2007 to £6.00 in 2009.
At a number of stations, First Capital Connect has replaced free to use cash machines, with machines that charge for withdrawals.
Upon taking over the free shuttle bus service from Luton Airport Parkway station to London Luton Airport, First Capital Connect introduced a charge.
Refurbishment
Under privatisation, Thameslink went about refurbishing its units. The Class 319/1s were rebuilt by Railcare Wolverton into the Class 319/3s, which included removing First Class accommodation. These units are used on Thameslink CityMetro services from Luton/St Albans to Wimbledon around the Sutton loop. These units are numbered 319361-319386.
The Class 319/0s it owned were rebuilt into Class 319/4s (with First Class accommodation added) for dedicated use on Thameslink Cityflier services from Bedford to Brighton, and were subsequently renumbered 319421-319460. Since then the fleet had undergone a minor refurbishment and Thameslink also initiated a programme of technical improvements. FCC has continued the refurbishment initiated by Thameslink, although it has altered the cosmetic features to its specifications.
WAGN and Thameslink trains are being repainted into FCC livery, a light-blue-to-dark blue shading with pink doors and a striped motif. New blue upholstery, linoleum and carpeting have been fitted, and the onboard lavatories have been repainted.