c2c & National Express - C

c2c - C

c2c History

c2c & National Express

In July 2000, c2c was included in the sale of Prism Rail to National Express. The merger of the companies was completed on 19 September 2000. National Express combined the management and support functions of c2c, Silverlink, WAGN and Stansted Express in a single organisation called London Lines in March 2001.

Fenchurch Street station management transferred from c2c to Network Rail in March 2002.

In January 2005, it was announced that an on-train television service would be tried out, and one unit had television installed. In June 2006, the 360 On-Board Television service ran into financial difficulties when c2c's partner in the project, TNCI (UK), ceased trading, and the service was withdrawn. c2c indicated it would restart the roll-out should a suitable partner be found.

In June 2006, it was announced that portable X-ray machines and metal detectors would be randomly placed at stations and carried by officers on trains during summer 2006 to catch people carrying weapons, in a joint operation with Essex Police and British Transport Police, following trials at London Underground stations.

A peak timetable introduced on 11 December 2006, with the aim of improving services for the Thurrock and London Riverside sections of the Thames Gateway, was withdrawn on 8 January 2007 after a campaign by passengers as a result of delays and cancellations that affected other lines on the network. c2c agreed in 2006 to work with Passenger Focus to establish a passenger panel.

In October 2007, c2c announced that the first coach of each unit would be made a Quiet Zone, where passengers are asked not to use their mobile phones or play music out loud. The Quiet Zone was introduced in early 2008 and is indicated by magenta vinyl stickers on the doors of the coach.

In October 2007, c2c announced that it had switched to renewably-generated electricity in all its stations, maintenance facilities and offices in a contract with E.ON UK, said to be the largest of its kind in the transport sector.

The franchise was originally due to conclude on 26 May 2011. In December 2010, the Department for Transport (DfT) granted National Express an extension until 26 May 2013 to allow DfT time to conduct a review of the franchising process. In March 2013, the Secretary of State for Transport announced the franchise would again be extended until 13 September 2014. A further delay saw this extended until 8 November 2014.

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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