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6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your First Capital Connect wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your First Capital Connect then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the First Capital Connect site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about First Capital Connect, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your First Capital Connect, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
{{Infobox Rail companies| bgcolor = FFFFFF
| logo_filename = First capital connect logo.gif
| image_filename = FirstCapitalConnect Unit365505.jpg
| widthpx = 300px
| franchise = Thameslink/Great Northern
1 April 2006 – 2015
| nameforarea = station
| regions = Bedford, Luton, Peterborough,
Kings Lynn, Cambridge, Kings Cross, Brighton, Moorgate
| secregions = Luton Airport, Blackfriars,
London Bridge, Gatwick Airport,
Stevenage, Wimbledon, Sutton, West Hampstead, Finsbury Park, Ely
| fleet = 41 [British Rail Class 313 sets
12 [British Rail Class 317 sets
74 [British Rail Class 319 sets
40 [British Rail Class 365
TOTAL 167
| stations=approx. 90
| parent_company=[First Group
| website=www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk
-->
First Capital Connect is a train operating company in England that began its passenger operations on the
National Rail network at 02:00
British Summer Time 1 April
2006. It is owned by First Group and combines the service on the cross-London Thameslink railway line with the services along the East Coast Main Line from King's Cross railway station and Moorgate station to
Peterborough, Cambridge, and King's Lynn formerly operated by wagn, often referred to as Great Northern Route. First Group plans to overhaul the trains with new liveries and on-board services as well as an Pound sterling8 million programme of upgrades for several major stations. The full term of the franchise is 9 years (until 2015) however this depends on meeting performance targets at the end of the fourth year (automatic 2 year extension) and the discretion of the DfT after the sixth year (optional up to 3 year extension).
The two franchises (
Thameslink (train operating company) and
WAGN (train operating company)) 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
On
11 June 2006, First Capital Connect caused consternation among commuters by restricting off-peak travel in the evenings for some journeys{{cite web]|date=2006-06-06|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5052494.stm|title=New curb on cheap day rail travel|accessdate=2006-06-13-->{{cite web|author=First Capital Connect|date=2006-06-11|url=http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/uploads/Ticket_Changes_leaflet.pdf|title=Ticket changes|accessdate=2006-06-13|format=PDF|pages=2-->. Commuters who for many years have used the off-peak service suddenly found they could not get home at their usual evening time without paying an additional fare. This "congestion charge" is attracting protest, the argument being that it unfairly penalises a subset of existing customers for congestion caused by all of them. In addition, FCC will apply these restrictions to delayed trains that were scheduled during the restricted hours. This means that any delay occurring to trains in the restricted evening hours (between 1630 and 1900) could delay the start of the off-peak time by an equivalent amount, meaning off-peak ticket holders may need to wait for anything up to 2.5 additional hours before they are allowed to travel, even though trains are running regularly through the station.
However, following criticism of the changes, on
10 July 2006 FCC announced that the restrictions would no longer apply to the following stations: Radlett, Knebworth, Welwyn North, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Welham Green, Brookmans Park, Potters Bar, Watton at Stone, Hertford North, Bayford and Cuffley{{cite web|author=First Capital Connect|date=2006-07-10|url=http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/|title=Changes to Evening Peak Restrictions|accessdate=2006-08-14-->.
In addition to these changes FCC also revised the ways that their customers could apply for compensation on the occasions that their journeys were delayed on the Thameslink route. In place of cash refunds, a form has to be filled in to claim rail vouchers.
Performance
The latest performance figures for First Capital Connect (FCC) as of the last quarter of the financial year 2006/7 are 88.2% overall (PPM) PPM actual slightly below the same figures from the same period last year of the previous franchise holders: Thameslink and West Anglia Great Northern (WAGN).
Rolling stock
Current fleet
{| class="wikitable"|----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9! rowspan="2" |Class! rowspan="2" |Image! rowspan="2" |Type! colspan="2" |Top speed! rowspan="2" |Number! rowspan="2" |Routes operated! rowspan="2" |Built|----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9!mph!km/h|-|British Rail Class 03||
diesel locomotive||[electric multiple unit
([Moorgate tube station, Hertford Loop)]||electric multiple unit|1981 - 1982|-|[British Rail Class 319||electric multiple unit
([Brighton station - Bedford railway station,
Sutton railway station - Luton railway station)|1987 - 1988
1990 - 1991|-|British Rail Class 365||
electric multiple unit [Hitchin-Cambridge_Line Fen_Line|1995|}
Management
The current Managing Director is Elaine Holt. Other directors include Andy Cope (Engineering), Hugh Clancy (Commercial), Karen Boswell (Customer Services), Belén McWilliam (Projects), Michelle Smart (Human Resources), Chris Cornthwaite (Finance) and Nigel Holness (Operations and Safety).
References
External links
- First Capital Connect official web site
- BBC News article on Takeover
- Network Rail's Thameslink Programme
{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=Operator of Thameslink/Great Northern franchise|years=2006 — present-->|-
{{Infobox Rail companies| bgcolor = FFFFFF
| logo_filename = First capital connect logo.gif
| image_filename = FirstCapitalConnect Unit365505.jpg
| widthpx = 300px
| franchise = Thameslink/Great Northern
1 April 2006 – 2015
| nameforarea = station
| regions = Bedford, Luton, Peterborough,
Kings Lynn, Cambridge, Kings Cross, Brighton, Moorgate
| secregions = Luton Airport, Blackfriars,
London Bridge, Gatwick Airport,
Stevenage, Wimbledon, Sutton, West Hampstead, Finsbury Park, Ely
| fleet = 41 [British Rail Class 313 sets
12 [British Rail Class 317 sets
74 [British Rail Class 319 sets
40 [British Rail Class 365
TOTAL 167
| stations=approx. 90
| parent_company=[First Group
| website=www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk
-->
First Capital Connect is a train operating company in England that began its passenger operations on the National Rail network at 02:00
British Summer Time 1 April 2006. It is owned by
First Group and combines the service on the cross-London Thameslink railway line with the services along the East Coast Main Line from King's Cross railway station and Moorgate station to
Peterborough, Cambridge, and King's Lynn formerly operated by
wagn, often referred to as
Great Northern Route. First Group plans to overhaul the trains with new liveries and on-board services as well as an Pound sterling8 million programme of upgrades for several major stations. The full term of the franchise is 9 years (until 2015) however this depends on meeting performance targets at the end of the fourth year (automatic 2 year extension) and the discretion of the DfT after the sixth year (optional up to 3 year extension).
The two franchises (
Thameslink (train operating company) and
WAGN (train operating company)) 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
On
11 June 2006, First Capital Connect caused consternation among commuters by restricting off-peak travel in the evenings for some journeys{{cite web]|date=2006-06-06|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5052494.stm|title=New curb on cheap day rail travel|accessdate=2006-06-13-->{{cite web|author=First Capital Connect|date=2006-06-11|url=http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/uploads/Ticket_Changes_leaflet.pdf|title=Ticket changes|accessdate=2006-06-13|format=PDF|pages=2-->. Commuters who for many years have used the off-peak service suddenly found they could not get home at their usual evening time without paying an additional fare. This "congestion charge" is attracting protest, the argument being that it unfairly penalises a subset of existing customers for congestion caused by all of them. In addition, FCC will apply these restrictions to delayed trains that were scheduled during the restricted hours. This means that any delay occurring to trains in the restricted evening hours (between 1630 and 1900) could delay the start of the off-peak time by an equivalent amount, meaning off-peak ticket holders may need to wait for anything up to 2.5 additional hours before they are allowed to travel, even though trains are running regularly through the station.
However, following criticism of the changes, on
10 July 2006 FCC announced that the restrictions would no longer apply to the following stations: Radlett, Knebworth, Welwyn North, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Welham Green, Brookmans Park, Potters Bar, Watton at Stone, Hertford North, Bayford and Cuffley{{cite web|author=First Capital Connect|date=2006-07-10|url=http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/|title=Changes to Evening Peak Restrictions|accessdate=2006-08-14-->.
In addition to these changes FCC also revised the ways that their customers could apply for compensation on the occasions that their journeys were delayed on the Thameslink route. In place of cash refunds, a form has to be filled in to claim rail vouchers.
Performance
The latest performance figures for First Capital Connect (FCC) as of the last quarter of the financial year 2006/7 are 88.2% overall (PPM) PPM actual slightly below the same figures from the same period last year of the previous franchise holders: Thameslink and West Anglia Great Northern (WAGN).
Rolling stock
Current fleet
{| class="wikitable"|----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9! rowspan="2" |Class! rowspan="2" |Image! rowspan="2" |Type! colspan="2" |Top speed! rowspan="2" |Number! rowspan="2" |Routes operated! rowspan="2" |Built|----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9!mph!km/h|-|
British Rail Class 03||diesel locomotive||[electric multiple unit
([Moorgate tube station,
Hertford Loop)]||
electric multiple unit|1981 - 1982|-|[British Rail Class 319||
electric multiple unit
([Brighton station -
Bedford railway station, Sutton railway station - Luton railway station)|1987 - 1988
1990 - 1991|-|British Rail Class 365||
electric multiple unit [Hitchin-Cambridge_Line Fen_Line|1995|}
Management
The current Managing Director is Elaine Holt. Other directors include Andy Cope (Engineering), Hugh Clancy (Commercial), Karen Boswell (Customer Services), Belén McWilliam (Projects), Michelle Smart (Human Resources), Chris Cornthwaite (Finance) and Nigel Holness (Operations and Safety).
References
External links
- First Capital Connect official web site
- BBC News article on Takeover
- Network Rail's Thameslink Programme
{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=Operator of Thameslink/Great Northern franchise|years=2006 — present-->|-
