Govia Thameslink has been awarded a contract to run the new Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise.

The deal, which is to run for seven years, will deliver more services and seats, faster journeys and better connections for millions of passengers. 

Some 1,400 new electric carriages are to be brought in across the network, increasing capacity by 50 per cent and providing 10,000 extra seats every weekday into central London during the morning peak by the end of 2018.

The franchise - the largest ever let in terms of passenger numbers - is to play a crucial role in the delivery of the government's £6.5 billion Thameslink programme. This will create 8,000 jobs and allow 24 trains per hour to travel in each direction from Blackfriars to St Pancras. 

Rail minister Stephen Hammond said: "The signing of this deal is great news for passengers and testament to the hard work of the department and the team at Govia."