c2c (legal name Trenitalia c2c Limited) - c2c First Franchise (1996–2014) - B

c2c - B

c2c History

c2c First Franchise (1996–2014)

LTS Rail

The London, Tilbury and Southend franchise was created as part of the privatisation of British Rail. In December 1995 the franchise was awarded to a management buyout and handover was due to happen on 4 February 1996. However, on 1 February 1996 ticketing and settlement irregularities were discovered and the other shortlisted bidders were invited to tender again.

In May 1996, the franchise was awarded to Prism Rail by the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising for 15 years. It began operating as LTS Rail on 26 May 1996. The franchise period could be reduced to seven years if the operator did not fulfil bid commitments to replace rolling stock with new trains.

Passenger numbers increased above forecasts which caused overcrowding as trains reached capacity at peak times. In 1998 the franchise was renegotiated to provide for the elimination of slam-door rolling stock and increased fleet by March 2002, increased staffing of stations, real-time passenger information system, improved security measures, improved station facilities for disabled people, increased cycle storage and pedestrian access from Chafford Hundred railway station to Lakeside Shopping Centre.

LTS Rail started serving West Ham station from 14 May 1999 to coincide with the opening of the Jubilee line extension. Peak services were restricted at West Ham, because of limitations of the signalling system. These were eliminated in time for the December 2011 timetable change ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The business was rebranded as c2c on 2 July 2000. To coincide with the rebranding, the company website was launched on 16 June 2000. The company name was changed from LTS Rail Limited to c2c Rail Limited.

c2c Overview

c2c Franchise(s):

London, Tilbury & Southend: 26 May 1996 – 8 November 2014

Essex Thameside: 9 November 2014 – 18 July 2021

c2c Contract(s): Essex Thameside: 19 July 2021 – 20 July 2025

Main Route(s): Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness

c2c Other Route(s):

Fenchurch Street to Grays via Rainham

Fenchurch Street to Pitsea via Ockendon

Liverpool Street to Shoeburyness

c2c Fleet Size:

74 Class 357 Electrostar sets

c2c Stations Called At: 28

c2c Stations Operated: 25

c2c Parent Company:

Prism Rail (1996–2000)

National Express (2000–2017)

Trenitalia (2017–present)

c2c Headquarters: Cutlers Court, 115 Houndsditch, London

c2c Reporting Mark: CC

c2c Dates of Operation: 26 May 1996–

c2c Predecessor: Network SouthEast

c2c Technical Length: 125.5 kilometres (78.0 mi)

c2c Route Map Legend

London

Fenchurch Street Liverpool Street

Limehouse Stratford

West Ham

East Ham Depot

Barking

Dagenham Dock Upminster

Rainham Ockendon

Purfleet Chafford Hundred

Lakeside

Grays West Horndon

Tilbury Town

East Tilbury Laindon

Stanford-le-Hope Basildon

Pitsea

Benfleet

Leigh-on-Sea

Chalkwell

Westcliff

Southend Central

Southend East

Thorpe Bay

Shoeburyness

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