Essex Thameside
Most services operated from Fenchurch Street in London | |||
| Overview | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | c2c | ||
| Main route | London, Tilbury and Southend line | ||
| Stations called at | 28 | ||
| Stations operated | 26 | ||
| Dates of operation | 26 May 1996–20 July 2025 | ||
| Predecessor | Network SouthEast | ||
| Successor | c2c | ||
| Other | |||
| Website | www.dft.gov.uk/publications/essex-thameside-2013/ | ||
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Essex Thameside was a railway contract, and former franchise, for the provision of passenger services on the London, Tilbury and Southend line in east London and south Essex. The London, Tilbury and Southend franchise was formed on 26 May 1996, as part of the privatisation of British Rail. The only train operating company was LTS Rail, later rebranded as c2c. Following a number of temporary extensions caused by problems with the rail franchising system, c2c was awarded the replacement 15-year Essex Thameside franchise which commenced on 9 November 2014. In February 2017, National Express sold c2c to Italian state railways operator Trenitalia. The franchise became a rail contract on 19 July 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The contract was abolished on 20 July 2025 when operation of the line was nationalised.