Southeastern (train operating company)

This article is about the current, government-owned company operating since 2021. For the former operator of the same name, see Southeastern (train operating company 2006–2021). For other uses, see Southeast (disambiguation) § Rail transport.

SE Trains Limited,^[4] trading as Southeastern, is a British train operating company owned by DfT Operator for the Department for Transport,^[5] that took over operating the South Eastern franchise in South East England from privately owned London & South Eastern Railway (which also traded as Southeastern) on 17 October 2021.

Southeastern

2 Southeastern Class 375 Electrostar at London Charing Cross
Overview
Franchise(s)	South Eastern
Main region(s)	Greater London, South East England
Fleet	Class 375 Electrostar Class 376 Electrostar Class 377 Electrostar Class 395 Javelin Class 465 Networker Class 466[1]Networker Class 707 City Beam [2]
Stations called at	180
Stations operated	164
Parent company	DfT Operator
Reporting mark	SE
Dates of operation	17 October 2021 (2021-10-17)–17 October 2027 (2027-10-17)[3]
Predecessor	Southeastern (Govia)
Other
Website	www.southeasternrailway.co.uk
Route map

History

In September 2021 the Department for Transport (DfT) announced it would be terminating the South Eastern franchise then operated by the Govia-owned Southeastern after revenue declaration discrepancies involving £25 million of public money were discovered.^[6][7][8] On 17 October 2021, an operator of last resort (OLR), SE Trains Limited, took over operations under the Southeastern brand; at the time, the DfT stated the OLR would manage the franchise for a six-year period, the end-date being set as 17 October 2027.^[3]

Southeastern has been one of several train operators affected by the 2022–2023 United Kingdom railway strikes, the first national rail strikes in the UK in three decades.^[9] Its workers are amongst those who are participating in industrial action due to a dispute over pay and working conditions.^[10] These actions have led to Southeastern occasionally being unable to provide a full service level, and due to the often abrupt nature of the industrial action, which has included overtime bans and strikes, has sometimes not been able to arrange for rail replacement buses in time.^[11][12]

On 1 June 2023, both e-scooters and electric skateboards were banned from being carried onboard Southeastern trains; the reason for the ban was that the lithium-ion batteries that power these compact vehicles posed a fire safety risk. Most electric bicycles may still be taken on board, however.^[13] Over the summer of 2023, Southeastern opened several new secure cycle hubs at railway stations across Kent as part of wider efforts to make its stations more accessible to cyclists.^[14] These additions came amid a £4.4 million station improvement programme covering both Kent and south-east London, headed by both Southeastern and Network Rail.^[15]

In late 2023, Southeastern introduced digital season tickets, referred to as sTickets, enabling customers to purchase and store season tickets on their smartphones. They can be bought through Southeastern's website as well as its mobile application, incorporate anti-fraud measures, and are valid for travel across south-east London, Kent, and East Sussex.^[16] Several other fare changes were made around this time, including the abolition of super off-peak tickets and various price rises.^[17] Around the same time, Southeastern scrapped plans to close many of its staffed ticket offices across its network.^[18][19]

Overview

Southeastern serves the main London stations of Charing Cross, Waterloo East, Cannon Street, London Bridge, St Pancras, Victoria and Blackfriars. The network has route mileage of 540 miles (870 km),^[5] covering 180 stations,^[5] 164 of which it manages.^[20]

Routes

Upon its takeover of the franchise, Southeastern initially operated the same routes and services as its predecessor. During December 2022, a new timetable was introduced that reportedly aimed to reduce congestion, improve reliability and better match demand following the COVID-19 pandemic.^[21] One year later, it was announced that Southeastern was to put on an additional 100 trains per week as a result of timetable changes based on customer feedback and travel pattern analysis across Kent, East Sussex and south-east London.^[22][23]

Several parties have called for the transfer of Southeastern's metro services to Transport for London (TfL).^[24] Prior to the OLR taking over operations, TfL itself had announced its intention to take over the London suburban parts of the franchise and integrate them into a wider metro network.^[25][26] Officials such as the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan have publicly supported this move.^[27][28]

As of December 2024, the weekday off-peak service pattern, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph), is:^[29]

High Speed 1[30]
Route	tph	Calling at
London St Pancras International to Faversham	1	Stratford International, Ebbsfleet International, Gravesend, Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham, Sittingbourne
London St Pancras International to Ramsgate via Faversham	1	Stratford International, Ebbsfleet International, Gravesend, Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham, Sittingbourne, Faversham, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Birchington-on-Sea, Margate, Broadstairs
London St Pancras International to Ramsgate via Dover Priory	1	Stratford International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Folkestone West, Folkestone Central, Dover Priory, Martin Mill, Walmer, Deal, Sandwich
London St Pancras International to Margate via Canterbury West	1	Stratford International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Canterbury West, Thanet Parkway, Ramsgate, Broadstairs
Chatham Main Line[31]
Route	tph	Calling at
London Victoria to Ramsgate via Faversham	1	Bromley South, Longfield (London-bound only), Meopham (London-bound only), Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham, Sittingbourne, Faversham, Whitstable, Chestfield & Swalecliffe, Herne Bay, Birchington-on-Sea, Westgate-on-Sea, Margate, Broadstairs, Dumpton Park
London Victoria to Dover Priory via Faversham	1	Bromley South, Longfield (Dover-bound only), Meopham (Dover-bound only), Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham, Newington, Sittingbourne, Teynham, Faversham, Selling, Canterbury East, Bekesbourne, Adisham, Aylesham, Snowdown, Shepherds Well, Kearsney
London Victoria to Gillingham	1	Denmark Hill, Bromley South, St Mary Cray, Swanley, Farningham Road, Longfield, Meopham, Sole Street, Rochester, Chatham
Sittingbourne to Sheerness-on-Sea	1	Kemsley, Swale, Queenborough
Maidstone Line[32]
Route	tph	Calling at
London Victoria to Ashford International via Maidstone East	1	Bromley South, St Mary Cray, Swanley, Otford, Kemsing, Borough Green & Wrotham, West Malling, East Malling, Barming, Maidstone East, Bearsted, Hollingbourne, Harrietsham, Lenham, Charing
London Charing Cross to Maidstone East (semi-fast)	1	Waterloo East, London Bridge, Swanley, Otford, Borough Green & Wrotham, West Malling
South Eastern Main Line[33]
Route	tph	Calling at
London Charing Cross to Dover Priory	1	Waterloo East, London Bridge, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Paddock Wood, Marden, Staplehurst, Headcorn, Ashford International, Westenhanger, Sandling, Folkestone West, Folkestone Central
London Charing Cross to Ramsgate via Canterbury West	1	Waterloo East, London Bridge, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Paddock Wood, Marden, Staplehurst, Headcorn, Pluckley, Ashford International, Wye, Chilham, Chartham, Canterbury West, Sturry, Minster, Thanet Parkway
Hastings Line[34]
Route	tph	Calling at
London Charing Cross to Hastings	2	Waterloo East, London Bridge, Orpington, Sevenoaks, Hildenborough (1tph), Tonbridge, High Brooms, Tunbridge Wells, Frant (1tph), Wadhurst, Stonegate (1tph), Etchingham (1tph), Robertsbridge (1tph), Battle, Crowhurst (1tph), West St Leonards (1tph), St Leonards Warrior Square Hildenborough, Frant, Stonegate, Etchingham, Robertsbridge, Crowhurst, and West St Leonards are all served by the same trains.
Medway Valley Line[35]
Route	tph	Calling at
Strood to Paddock Wood via Maidstone West	2	Cuxton, Halling, Snodland, New Hythe, Aylesford, Maidstone Barracks, Maidstone West, East Farleigh, Wateringbury, Yalding, Beltring
Metro - North Kent Line[36]
Route	tph	Calling at
London Cannon Street to London Cannon Street via Greenwich and Woolwich Arsenal (clockwise)	2	London Bridge, Deptford, Greenwich, Maze Hill, Westcombe Park, Charlton, Woolwich Dockyard, Woolwich Arsenal, Plumstead, Abbey Wood, Belvedere, Erith, Slade Green Services continue to/from London Cannon Street via Bexleyheath (see below).
London Cannon Street to Dartford via Lewisham and Woolwich Arsenal	2	London Bridge, New Cross, St Johns, Lewisham, Blackheath, Charlton, Woolwich Dockyard, Woolwich Arsenal, Plumstead, Abbey Wood, Belvedere, Erith, Slade Green
Metro - Bexleyheath Line[37]
Route	tph	Calling at
London Cannon Street to London Cannon Street via Bexleyheath (anticlockwise)	2	London Bridge, New Cross, St Johns, Lewisham, Blackheath, Kidbrooke, Eltham, Falconwood, Welling, Bexleyheath, Barnehurst, Slade Green Services continue to/from London Cannon Street via Woolwich Arsenal and Greenwich (see above).
London Victoria to Gravesend via Bexleyheath	2	Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye, Nunhead, Lewisham, Blackheath, Kidbrooke, Eltham, Falconwood, Welling, Bexleyheath, Barnehurst, Dartford, Greenhithe
London Charing Cross to Dartford via Bexleyheath	1	Waterloo East, London Bridge, Lewisham, Blackheath, Kidbrooke, Eltham, Falconwood, Welling, Bexleyheath, Barnehurst
Metro - Sidcup Line[38]
Route	tph	Calling at
London Charing Cross to Dartford via Lewisham and Sidcup	2	Waterloo East, London Bridge, Lewisham, Hither Green, Lee, Mottingham, New Eltham, Sidcup, Albany Park, Bexley, Crayford
London Charing Cross to Gravesend via Sidcup	2	Waterloo East, London Bridge, Hither Green, Lee, Mottingham, New Eltham, Sidcup, Albany Park, Bexley, Crayford, Dartford, Stone Crossing, Greenhithe, Swanscombe, Northfleet
Metro - South Eastern Main Line[39]
Route	tph	Calling at
London Cannon Street to Orpington via Grove Park	2	London Bridge, New Cross, St Johns, Hither Green, Grove Park, Elmstead Woods, Chislehurst, Petts Wood
London Charing Cross to Sevenoaks via Grove Park	2	Waterloo East, London Bridge, Lewisham, Hither Green, Grove Park, Elmstead Woods, Chislehurst, Petts Wood, Orpington, Chelsfield, Knockholt, Dunton Green
Grove Park to Bromley North (branch line)	2	Sundridge Park
Metro - Hayes Line[40]
Route	tph	Calling at
London Charing Cross to Hayes	4	Waterloo East, London Bridge, Lewisham (2 tph), Ladywell, Catford Bridge, Lower Sydenham, New Beckenham, Clock House, Elmers End, Eden Park, West Wickham
Metro - Chatham Main Line[41]
Route	tph	Calling at
London Victoria to Orpington via Beckenham Junction	4	Brixton, Herne Hill, West Dulwich, Sydenham Hill, Penge East, Kent House, Beckenham Junction, Shortlands, Bromley South, Bickley, Petts Wood

Rolling stock

At the commencement of operations, Southeastern retained the same electric multiple units as its predecessor. It promptly launched a refurbishment programme covering most of its existing rolling stock; £27 million alone was allocated to the refurbishment of its 29 Class 395 Javelin high-speed trains.^[42][43] By May 2023, Southeastern had reportedly completed work on half of its 112-strong Class 375 Electrostar fleet under a £10 million upgrade programme; internal changes included the addition of new USB ports, at-seat electrical sockets, LED lighting, and energy meters.^[44]

The previous franchisee had finalised a leasing arrangement for the entire Class 707 fleet and was in the process of launching the type into service when the OLR took over.^[45][46] Southeastern has continued this deal, thus the remainder of the 30 Class 707s shall enter service as they are released by South Western Railway.^[2]

Various initiatives have been explored to improve train performance, capabilities and effectiveness. Southeastern formed a team with Siemens Mobility and Eversholt Rail to jointly develop a fully automated vehicle inspection system to inspect its vehicles; this technology, which uses numerous high sensitivity cameras and optical laser sensors, is to be first used at the operator's Ramsgate depot, and will be active from 2025.^[47]

Southeastern has also examined the prospects for replacing older portions of its train fleet. In November 2022, the operator launched the process of procuring new trains via the issuing of a tender. Southeastern has sought between 350 and 640 new carriages for its services; these are projected to be introduced sometime during the mid-2020s.^[48][49]

Current fleet

Family	Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Carriages	Routes operated	Built
				mph	km/h
Bombardier Electrostar	375/3		EMU	100	160	10	3	Main line routes	1999–2005
	375/6					30	4
	375/7					15
	375/8					30
	375/9					27
	376			75	120	36	5	Metro routes	2004–2005
	377/5			100	160	23	4	Main line routes	2008–2009
Hitachi AT300	395 Javelin			140	225	29	6	High Speed 1 services	2007–2009
Networker	465/0			75	120	50[1]	4	Main line and metro routes	1991–1994
	465/1					47[1]
	465/9					25[1]
	466					29[1]	2	Main line and metro routes	1993–1994
Siemens Desiro	707 City Beam			100	160	30[50]	5	Metro routes	2015–2018

Past fleet

In May 2022, two Class 377/1 units were transferred from Southeastern back to Southern.^[51]

Family	Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Carriages	Routes operated	Year withdrawn
				mph	km/h
Bombardier Electrostar	377		EMU	100	160	2	4	Main line routes	2022

Future Fleet

In May 2024 Southeastern issued a tender for 350 to 640 new carriages to replace the Class 465 and 466 units. CAF, Hitachi, Stadler, Siemens and Alstom are currently bidding for the tender of new fleets.^[52][53]

In November 2024 it was announced that in the period between December 2024 and December 2025, Southeastern would be set to receive 13 Class 377/1s (377121-133) from Southern to replace ageing Class 465 units, being made available by a movement of out-of-service Class 379 units and Class 387/1 units to support Govia Thameslink Railway services. ^[54]