Connex
This page refers to Connex, the European public transport company. If you were looking for the Romanian GSM mobile phone operator, see Connex Romania.
Connex is Europe's largest private public transport company.
In Britain, it runs passenger train services in South East London, Kent and parts of East Sussex, and many bus routes in London and the South East.
Once part of the old Southern Region and Network South East, this dense network of services runs into Victoria, and to Charing Cross and Cannon Street via London Bridge. The company has become known for promising twelve-coach trains over a network with indequate electric power supplies, for gating and fencing stations to reduce freeloaders and vandalism, and for seeking to overcome capacity limitations by commissioning new trains with no on-board toilets. The franchise to operate these routes was due to run until 2006, but in June 2003 the Strategic Rail Authority decided to cut the franchise short at the end of 2003 due to what it called "poor financial management".
Connex previously held the franchise for South Central, and is free to bid for future franchises, including the trans-Pennine franchise curently held by Arriva, which is due for renewal in September 2004.
In the Netherlands Connex consists of:
- BBA, buses in Noord-Brabant (except the east part), Tholen and northwest Utrecht (province)
- Connex SBM (Stadsbus Maastricht, city buses)
- Limex (formerly Arriva south-Limburg), buses
- BBA Fast Ferries Zeeland (Westerschelde ferry).
In Finland Connex owns Helsinki Metropolitan Area's bus company Connex Finland, which was previously Linjebuss.
In Stockholm, Sweden, Connex is leased by SL to run the metro system.
The company, which is owned by Veolia Environnement, also operates train and bus services in Australia, many parts of the United States, several countries in the Middle East and Colombia.
