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c2c facts for kids
| Franchise(s): |
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|---|---|
| Main route(s): | Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness |
| Other route(s): |
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| Fleet size: |
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| Stations called at: | 28 |
| Stations operated: | 25 |
| National Rail abbreviation: | CC |
| Parent company: |
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c2c is a British train company. It is owned by Trenitalia, an Italian company. c2c runs trains on the Essex Thameside railway line. This line connects London Fenchurch Street to parts of East London and south Essex.
The company manages 25 train stations. Its trains stop at 28 different stations. At weekends, c2c trains also run from London Liverpool Street.
c2c started operating in May 1996. Back then, it was called LTS Rail. It was part of a big change when British railways became private companies. LTS Rail ordered new trains, called Class 357 Electrostar electric trains. These new trains replaced older ones by 2003.
In 2000, LTS Rail changed its name to c2c. Over the years, c2c has added new features for passengers. These include special "Quiet Zones" on trains and Wi-Fi. They also made it easier to pay for tickets using Oyster and other smartcards.
In 2017, the Italian company Trenitalia bought c2c. To handle more passengers, c2c ordered new Class 720 Aventra trains. These new trains started running in September 2023.
Contents
History of c2c Trains
How c2c Started (1996–2014)
LTS Rail: The Beginning
The railway line that c2c uses became a private company in 1996. This was part of a big change for British Rail. A company called Prism Rail won the contract to run the trains. They started operating as LTS Rail on 26 May 1996.
More and more people started using the trains. This meant trains often got very crowded. So, LTS Rail made plans to get rid of old trains and add more new ones. They also promised to improve stations and safety.
LTS Rail started stopping at West Ham station in 1999. This was helpful because a new Tube line, the Jubilee line, opened there. On 2 July 2000, LTS Rail changed its name to c2c. They also launched their new website.
National Express Takes Over
In July 2000, a larger company called National Express bought Prism Rail, which owned c2c. National Express then managed c2c along with other train lines.
In March 2002, the management of Fenchurch Street railway station moved from c2c to Network Rail.
In October 2007, c2c introduced "Quiet Zones" on its trains. In these areas, passengers were asked to avoid loud phone calls or music. This was for people who wanted a peaceful journey. Also in 2007, c2c announced it would use electricity from renewable sources for its stations and offices. This was a step towards being more environmentally friendly.
The original contract for c2c was supposed to end in 2011. But it was extended several times.
New Contract and Changes (2014–2021)
On 9 November 2014, National Express won a new 15-year contract to run the Essex Thameside line. The c2c brand stayed the same. c2c also took back control of managing Fenchurch Street station.
In December 2015, c2c changed its timetable. This was to match how many people were using different stations. Some changes were made to help passengers traveling shorter distances.
Trenitalia Buys c2c
In February 2017, National Express sold c2c to Trenitalia. Trenitalia is a big train operator from Italy. After this, c2c's official name became Trenitalia c2c Limited.
On 1 April 2017, c2c started offering free Wi-Fi on its trains. They also launched an entertainment service called Vista. This service allowed passengers to stream TV shows for free.
In September 2019, c2c invested over £10 million in new self-service ticket machines. These machines are easy to use and can be fixed remotely.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the way c2c operated changed. The government and Trenitalia agreed on new terms for running the trains.
Current Rail Contract (2021–present)
On 19 July 2021, the old contract was replaced with a new "rail contract." This contract was set to end in July 2023.
In May 2022, the timetable was changed again. This was to make space for the new London Overground extension to Barking Riverside. This new line shares some tracks with c2c services.
c2c has been affected by the 2022–present United Kingdom railway strikes. These strikes involved many railway workers asking for better pay and working conditions.
In February 2023, the government extended c2c's contract until 20 July 2025.
What "c2c" Means
The name "c2c" doesn't have one specific meaning. It can mean "city to coast" or "capital to coast." This makes sense because the trains connect London (the capital city) to towns along the coast in Essex.
c2c has also said that the name stands for "commitment to customers." This shows their dedication to serving passengers well.
Train Services
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Routes and Speed
c2c trains run on the London, Tilbury and Southend line. This line goes from Fenchurch Street in London to Shoeburyness in Essex. The journey is about 39 miles (63 km) long.
There are a few different routes:
- The main line goes through Basildon.
- Another route goes through Tilbury.
- A third route goes through Ockendon.
The fastest journey between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness takes about 56 minutes. The trains can go up to 100 mph (161 km/h), but the track speed limit is 75 mph (121 km/h).
Starting Points in London
Most c2c services operate from Fenchurch Street railway station
Most c2c trains start or end at Fenchurch Street railway station.
On weekends, some c2c trains are sent to London Liverpool Street instead. This allows passengers to easily reach places like Westfield Stratford City and the London Stadium. This route is also used if there are problems or engineering work blocking Fenchurch Street.
Stations Served
c2c stops at 28 stations in total. c2c manages 25 of these stations. Other stations like West Ham, Stratford, and Liverpool Street are managed by different transport companies.
You can change to the London Underground at several c2c stations. These include Fenchurch Street (via Tower Hill), West Ham, Barking, and Upminster. There are also connections to the Docklands Light Railway, Elizabeth line, and London Overground.
Typical Weekday Timetable
Here is what the train service looks like during off-peak times on weekdays (as of December 2023):
| London, Tilbury and Southend line | ||
|---|---|---|
| Route | tph | Calling at |
| Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness via Basildon | 2 | |
| Fenchurch Street to Southend Central via Ockendon | 2 |
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| Fenchurch Street to Grays via Rainham | 2 |
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Future Plans
A new station called Beam Park will be built in the future. It will become part of the c2c network, located between Dagenham Dock and Rainham.
Tickets and Payment
c2c offers special smartcards called 'c2c Smart' for tickets. These cards make travel easier.
You can also use Oyster cards and contactless bank cards to pay for your journey. This is available at many stations between London and Grays. The goal is to have contactless payment at all c2c stations.
From January 2024, c2c started accepting electronic tickets. You can buy these tickets and keep them on your mobile phone.
Train Fleet
Replacing Old Trains
Class 312 at Shoeburyness station on 29 March 2003, the final day of running.
When c2c started, it used older trains from British Rail. These were called "slam-door" trains because their doors closed with a loud slam. LTS Rail, the original name for c2c, promised to replace all these old trains.
In 1997, c2c ordered 44 new Class 357 Electrostar trains. Another 28 Class 357 units were ordered later. By 2003, c2c was the first train company in the UK to have a completely new fleet of modern, accessible trains. The last old "slam-door" train ran on 29 March 2003.
Class 357 Trains
In 2007, c2c started adding "regenerative braking" to its Class 357 trains. This technology helps save energy by turning the energy from braking into electricity. c2c was the first UK train operator to do this. They even painted one train green to show how much energy they were saving!
Between 2009 and 2011, the Class 357 trains were repainted. They changed from a purple-blue color to white with dark blue doors.
Dealing with Crowds
As more people used c2c trains, especially after new stations opened, trains became very crowded. To help with this, c2c made some changes:
- They changed the seating layout on some Class 357 carriages. They removed some seats to create more standing room. This helped more people fit on the trains, especially for shorter journeys.
- In 2016, c2c leased six Class 387 trains to add more capacity during busy times.
- In 2017, c2c ordered six new ten-car Class 720/6 Aventra trains. These new trains are very modern and help carry even more passengers. The first Class 720 trains started running in September 2023.
Current Trains
c2c's trains are looked after at depots in East Ham and Shoeburyness.
| Family | Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Carriages | Routes operated | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||||
| Bombardier Electrostar | 357 |  |
EMU | 100 | 161 | 74 | 4 | London, Tilbury and Southend line | 1999–2002 |
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| Alstom Aventra | 720/6 |  |
12 | 5 | London, Tilbury and Southend line | 2022 | |||
Former Trains
Here are some of the trains that c2c used to operate:
| Family | Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Carriages | Routes operated | Built | Left fleet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | |||||||||
| BR First Generation (Mark 1) | 302 | _298_1964_Barking.jpg) |
EMU | 75 | 121 | 30 | 4 | London, Tilbury and Southend line | 1958–1959 | 1998 |
| BR First Generation (Mark 2) | 310 |  |
35 | 4 | 1965–1967 | 2002 | ||||
| 312 | |
90 | 145 | 25 | 4 | 1975–1978 | 2003 | |||
| BR Second Generation (Mark 3) | 317 |  |
100 | 161 | 18 | 4 | London, Tilbury and Southend line | 1981–1982, 1985–1987 | 2002 | |
| 321 |  |
2 | 4 | 2007 | ||||||
| Bombardier Electrostar | 387/3 |  |
110 | 177 | 6 | 4 | London, Tilbury and Southend line | 2016 | 2022 | |
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Train Performance
c2c aims to run trains on time and avoid cancellations. For example, between April 2021 and March 2022, about 83.4% of c2c trains ran on time. Only a small number of planned services, about 1.3%, were cancelled.