View source for First Capital Connect

{{Short description|Former British train operating company}}
{{about|the former train operating company|the current train operating company|Govia Thameslink Railway}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox rail company
|name=First Capital Connect
|logo = FirstCC.svg
|image = 377514 at St Pancras International Platform 1.jpg
|caption = [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377 ''Electrostar'']] at {{stnlnk|London St Pancras International}} in 2012
|image_size=300px
|franchise = [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise|Thameslink and Great Northern]]<br />1 Apr 2006 – 13 Sep 2014
|abbr=FC 
|predecessor    = [[Thameslink (train operating company 1997–2006)|Thameslink]], 2 Mar 1997 – 31 Mar 2006
|successor      = [[Govia Thameslink Railway]], 14th Sep 2014 – present
|regions = [[East of England]], London, [[South East England]]
|secregions = 
|stations=
|stationsop= 77
|length= {{cvt|778.9|km}}{{cn|date=April 2023}}
|parent_company=[[FirstGroup]]
|website= {{url|https://web.archive.org/web/20150524160943/http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk}}
|map = [[File:First Capital Connect route map 2010.svg|300px|Route map]]
}}
'''First Capital Connect'''<ref>[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/05281077 Companies House extract company no 5281077] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217005316/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/05281077 |date=17 December 2013 }} First Capital Connect Limited</ref> ('''FCC''') was a British [[train operating company]], owned by [[FirstGroup]], that operated the [[Thameslink]] and [[Great Northern route|Great Northern]] sectors from April 2006 to September 2014 which later became the '''Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern''' [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise|(TSGN)]] franchise.

First Capital Connect was a major provider of commuter and regional services in London and the south east of England. It operated passenger rail services from [[Luton railway station|Luton]] and [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]] via the [[Thameslink (route)|Thameslink]] to [[Sutton railway station (London)|Sutton]], [[Wimbledon railway station|Wimbledon]] and [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]] via [[Central London]].

It also operated commuter, suburban and regional services out of [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] and [[London Moorgate railway station|London Moorgate]] to [[Hertfordshire]], [[Cambridgeshire]] and [[Norfolk]]. Major destinations served included [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]], [[King's Lynn railway station|King's Lynn]] and [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]].

First Capital Connect ceased operations at 02:00 on 14 September 2014, when the franchise was taken over by [[Govia Thameslink Railway]], and became part of the larger [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise]].

==History==
On 8 April 2005, the [[Strategic Rail Authority]] announced that [[Danish State Railways]]/[[DB Schenker Rail (UK)|EWS]], [[FirstGroup]], [[John Laing Group|John Laing]]/[[MTR Corporation|MTR]], [[National Express]] and [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]] had been shortlisted for the [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern|Thameslink Great Northern franchise]].<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2005/4/GW_TL_GN |archive-date=7 April 2005 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050407061424/http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2005/4/GW_TL_GN |title= Pre-qualified Bidders for Two New Passenger Franchises were announced by the SRA today |publisher=Strategic Rail Authority |date=1 April 2005}}</ref> On 13 December 2005, the [[Department for Transport]] awarded the new franchise to FirstGroup, with the services operated by [[Thameslink (train operating company 1997–2006)|Thameslink]] and [[West Anglia Great Northern]] transferring to First Capital Connect on 1 April 2006.<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=181549&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False |title=Department for Transport Announces Winner of Thameslink/GN Franchise |publisher=Department for Transport |date=13 December 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070310142714/http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=181549&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False |archive-date=10 March 2007 }}</ref>

The term of the franchise was originally for nine years, finishing in 2015. This was dependent on performance targets being met at the end of the fourth year, which would trigger an automatic two-year extension, and an extension for up to three years after the sixth year at the discretion of the DfT.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/franchises/gwtgw/dftannounceswinnerofgreaterw3328 |publisher=Department for Transport |date=13 December 2005 |title=DfT announces winner of Greater Western and Thameslink/GN franchises |access-date=24 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811010755/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/franchises/gwtgw/dftannounceswinnerofgreaterw3328 |archive-date=11 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was announced on 5 August 2011 that the franchise would end on 14 September 2013. "This will help to facilitate the continued project delivery of the Thameslink Programme, in particular the introduction of new rolling stock, which will be completed after the expiry date of the existing franchise."<ref>{{Cite press release |url= http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FIRSTGROUP+PLC+-+Statement+re%3A+Rail+Franchises.-a0263404249 |publisher= FirstGroup |date= 5 August 2011 |title= Statement re Rail Franchises |access-date= 4 December 2011 |archive-date= 22 February 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140222142800/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FIRSTGROUP+PLC+-+Statement+re%3A+Rail+Franchises.-a0263404249 |url-status= live }}</ref>

The Thameslink franchise and the Great Northern part of the [[West Anglia Great Northern]] franchise were amalgamated in preparation for the [[Thameslink Programme]] (formerly Thameslink 2000), designed to increase capacity on the Thameslink route, with trains from King's Lynn, Cambridge and Peterborough.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/cms/pages/view/31 |title= Thameslink Programme |publisher=First Capital Connect |access-date=19 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100402080415/http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/cms/pages/view/31 |archive-date=2 April 2010}}</ref> On 24 July 2007 the government announced that it was fully committed to funding the Thameslink Programme,<ref>{{Cite press release |url= http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=2408&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=2 |publisher=Network Rail |date=18 October 2006 |title= The £3.5bn Thameslink project clears major hurdle |access-date =10 November 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070304113209/http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=2408&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=2 |archive-date=4 March 2007}}</ref> and the project is now largely complete.

In the early part of 2007, First Capital Connect conducted a study and undertook consultation on options for increasing the capacity of services to Peterborough and Cambridge. The final recommendations involved lengthening four peak services from eight to 12 carriages from May 2009, and adding or removing a small number of stops to balance loads between trains.<ref name="Cambridge Capacity Study">{{Cite web |publisher=First Capital Connect |url= http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=236 |date=17 December 2007 |title=Cambridge Capacity Study |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071217075308/http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=236 |archive-date=17 December 2007 }}</ref><ref name="Changes to Capacity Study Timetable Following Consultation">{{Cite web |publisher=First Capital Connect |url= http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/content/doc/cms/Changes%20to%20timetable%20following%20consultation.pdf |title=Key changes to evening peak services |year=2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080229032108/http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/content/doc/cms/Changes%20to%20timetable%20following%20consultation.pdf |archive-date=29 February 2008 }}</ref> 1,779 more seats have been provided during the morning peak and 2,490 during the evening peak, significantly reducing the number of rush-hour commuters unable to find a seat.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}}

===Demise===
In December 2011, the DfT announced that all services operated by First Capital Connect would be included within the new [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern]] franchise.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/thameslink-franchise-2013/ |publisher=Department for Transport |title=Thameslink franchise 2013 |date=19 December 2011 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-date=10 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110201605/http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/thameslink-franchise-2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 29 March 2012, the Department for Transport announced that [[Abellio (transport company)|Abellio]], [[FirstGroup]], [[Govia]], [[MTR Corporation|MTR]] and [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]] had been shortlisted for the new franchise.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-thameslink/thameslink-ojeu-notice.pdf |title=Thameslink Franchise OJEU Notice |publisher=Department for Transport |date=19 December 2011 |access-date=28 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130527143852/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-thameslink/thameslink-ojeu-notice.pdf |archive-date=27 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20120329// |title= Bidders to oversee improvements on rail franchises announced |publisher= Department for Transport |date= 29 March 2012 |access-date= 15 October 2012 |archive-date= 20 October 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121020023744/http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20120329/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

The Invitation to Tender was to have been issued in October 2012 and the successful bidder announced in early 2013. But in the wake of the [[InterCity West Coast]] re-franchising process collapsing, the government announced in October 2012 that the process would be put on hold pending the results of a review.<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20121003a |title= West Coast Main Line franchise competition cancelled |publisher= Department for Transport |date= 3 October 2012 |access-date= 3 October 2012 |archive-date= 10 October 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121010151357/http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20121003a/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

In January 2013 the government announced it would be exercising an option to extend the franchise until 31 March 2014.<ref>{{cite press release |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rail-franchising-future-programme |title= Rail franchising future programme |publisher= Department for Transport |date= 31 January 2013 |access-date= 31 January 2013 |archive-date= 6 February 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130206163629/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rail-franchising-future-programme |url-status= live }}</ref>

In March 2013, the [[Secretary of State for Transport]] announced plans for a direct award franchise to run until 13 September 2014.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/franchise-announcement "Railway plan puts new focus on passengers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813220726/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/franchise-announcement |date=13 August 2013 }}. Secretary of State for Transport statement. 26 March 2013.</ref> On 18 February 2014 the Department for Transport announced it had agreed a new short-term franchise with First Capital Connect, running for six months to September 2014.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/passengers-on-track-to-receive-multi-billion-pound-improvements-to-services |title=Passengers on track to receive multi-billion pound improvements to services |publisher=Department for Transport |date=18 February 2014 |access-date=18 February 2014 |archive-date=22 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222070244/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/passengers-on-track-to-receive-multi-billion-pound-improvements-to-services |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 23 May 2014 the new TSGN franchise was awarded to Govia with services operated by First Capital Connect transferring to [[Govia Thameslink Railway]] on 14 September 2014.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rail-franchising-deal-set-to-transform-passenger-services-across-london-and-south-east |title=New rail franchising deal set to transform passenger services across London and south east |publisher=Department for Transport |date=23 May 2014 |access-date=23 May 2014 |archive-date=23 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523230148/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rail-franchising-deal-set-to-transform-passenger-services-across-london-and-south-east |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Routes==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2012}}
[[File:313059 D Welwyn Garden City.JPG|thumb|[[British Rail Class 313|313]] at [[Welwyn Garden City railway station|Welwyn Garden City]]]]
[[File:313044 M Refreshed Interior.JPG|thumb|Refreshed interior of a [[British Rail Class 313|Class 313]]]]
[[File:317342 AND 317340 Peterborough.JPG|thumb|[[British Rail Class 317|Class 317s]] at [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]]]]
[[File:319369 319368 A St Albans.JPG|thumb|[[British Rail Class 319|319s]] at [[St Albans City railway station|St Albans]]]]
[[File:319363 TSO Internal.JPG|thumb|Refreshed interior of a [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]]]]
[[File:V F CC 321404 A Hornsey TMD.JPG|thumb|Refreshed [[British Rail Class 321|Class 321]] at [[Hornsey rolling stock depots|Hornsey TMD]]]]
[[File:V F CC 321404 TSO Internal.JPG|thumb|Refreshed Standard Class interior of a [[British Rail Class 321|Class 321]]]]
[[File:365501 B Peterborough.JPG|thumb|[[British Rail Class 365|Class 365]] at [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]]]]
The routes operated by First Capital Connect off-peak Monday to Friday were, with frequencies in trains per hour:

===Great Northern===
====From London King's Cross====
* to Peterborough &ndash; 2 (1 semi-fast, 1 stopping)
* to Cambridge (non-stop) &ndash; 2 (1 extended to King's Lynn)
* to Cambridge &ndash; 2 (1 semi-fast, 1 stopping)

====From Moorgate====
* to Hertford North via Gordon Hill &ndash; 3 (1 extended to Letchworth Garden City)
* to Welwyn Garden City &ndash; 3

Unlike the Thameslink route, there was only one control centre for FCC services on the Great Northern route, at King's Cross, within the power signal box.

===Thameslink===
* Sevenoaks via Catford to Kentish Town (off-peak) or Bedford (peak trains)&ndash; 2 (jointly operated with Southeastern)
* Bedford to Brighton&ndash; 4 (2 semi-fast, 2 stopping)
* Luton to Sutton (London) via Wimbledon&ndash; 2
* St Albans to Sutton (London) via Mitcham Junction&ndash; 2

This gave a frequency of 10 trains between London Blackfriars and St Pancras which increased during peak hours.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140601064608/http://firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/plan-your-journey/timetables/show-all/ |url= http://firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/plan-your-journey/timetables/show-all |title= Great Northern timetables |publisher=First Capital Connect |access-date=25 November 2019 |archive-date=1 June 2014}}</ref>

FCC had two control centres (or 'Service Delivery Centres', SDC) for the Thameslink route. North of Blackfriars was controlled from [[West Hampstead Thameslink railway station|West Hampstead]], within the power [[signal box]]; south of Blackfriars from Three Bridges, which was also home to other southern [[train operating company|TOC]] controls.

==Major service disruptions==
The disruptions were triggered by FCC drivers declining to work overtime or during their allotted rest days, following their rejection of a proposed pay increase of 0% (rising to 3% in 2010). Without access to overtime and rest day work, FCC was unable to provide enough drivers to maintain its standard Thameslink service.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/nov/13/london-train-driver-shortages-chaos |title=More chaos for commuters as train driver shortages continue |work=The Guardian |date=13 November 2009 |access-date=7 January 2010 |location=London |first=Matt |last=Weaver |archive-date=28 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228165334/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/nov/13/london-train-driver-shortages-chaos |url-status=live }}</ref> Disruption continued into January 2010 as a result of heavy snow in south-east England; although snow was not the only problem, and although significant snowfall ended on 6 January, FCC continued to run emergency timetables through to 11 January.<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8452317.stm |work=BBC News |title=Train services hit by snow damage |date=11 January 2010 |access-date =2 May 2010}}</ref>

Trains returned to the normal timetables from 18 January,<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8465139.stm |work=BBC News |title='Near normal' service on trains |date=18 January 2010 |access-date =2 May 2010}}</ref> but delays and cancellations continued as a result of signalling problems. It was revealed that First Capital Connect achieved 60% in its punctuality during the first half of January 2010 on the Thameslink route. First Capital Connect has since offered improved discount and refund packages for customers affected by the disruption.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=504 |title=Disruption FAQ |publisher=First Capital Connect |date=24 January 2009 |access-date=24 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123145010/http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=504 |archive-date=23 January 2010 }}</ref>

On 23 December 2010 FCC introduced an emergency timetable on the Great Northern route, reducing the number of rush-hour trains by 75%. This was due to snow which had damaged some of the trains, making them unable to run.{{citation needed|date=January 2012}}

==Customer satisfaction==
Angry commuters started a petition on the Prime Minister's website to end First Capital Connect's franchise during 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/jan/24/petition-over-thameslink-delays |title=Commuters petition Gordon Brown to strip First Capital Connect of franchise on Thameslink 'misery line' |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=24 January 2009 |access-date=24 January 2010 |location=London |first=Tracy |last=McVeigh |archive-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224173523/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/jan/24/petition-over-thameslink-delays |url-status=live }}</ref> Other people have asked for a full enquiry into the service,{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} while [[Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis|Lord Adonis]], the former [[Secretary of State for Transport]], described the service offered by FCC on its Thameslink route as "shoddy" and "very substandard", and said that if improvements were not made the company could be stripped of its franchise.<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8461786.stm |title= Adonis criticises First Capital Connect rail services |date=15 January 2010 |access-date=20 January 2010 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d636068e-062c-11df-8c97-00144feabdc0.html |title=Adonis warns Thameslink rail operator |work=[[Financial Times]] |location =London |date=21 January 2010 |author=Pickard, Jim |author2= Plimmer, Gill |access-date=24 January 2010}}</ref>

In its Autumn 2009 National Passenger Survey, [[Passenger Focus]] said FCC had the lowest overall satisfaction rating of any UK train operator, at 75%.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Passenger Focus |date=4 February 2010 |title=National Passenger Survey Autumn 2009 |url=http://passengerfocus.org.uk/news-and-publications/document-search/document.asp?dsid=3568 |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210162740/http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/news-and-publications/document-search/document.asp?dsid=3568 |archive-date=10 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In early 2013, [[Consumer organization|consumer group]] ''[[Which?]]'' carried out a survey which rated First Capital Connect as the worst train operator in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 February 2013 |title=All aboard? Which? reveals how train companies are still letting down commuters |url=https://prod-wordpress-press.internal.which.co.uk/?post_type=whichpressreleases&p=1639 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522152110/https://prod-wordpress-press.internal.which.co.uk/?post_type=whichpressreleases&p=1639 |archive-date=22 May 2021 |access-date=24 October 2019 |website=[[Which?]]}}</ref>

===Overcrowding===
First Capital Connect was criticised for running some of the country's most overcrowded trains; the 07.15 from Cambridge to London King's Cross frequently was reported to have had 76 people standing for every 100 seated.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3199697/Government-cuts-train-overcrowding-with-new-definition.html |title=Government cuts train overcrowding with new definition |date=15 October 2008 |access-date=23 February 2009 |work=The Daily Telegraph |last=Tibbetts |first=Graham |location=London |archive-date=27 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327125543/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3199697/Government-cuts-train-overcrowding-with-new-definition.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This situation was recognised by FCC itself: "We recognise that overcrowding is the biggest issue affecting our customers. This is at an unacceptable level on some of our services".<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23390342-details/Overcrowded+trains+are+%27shaming+Britain%27/article.do |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120914074043/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23390342-details/Overcrowded+trains+are+'shaming+Britain'/article.do |url-status= dead |archive-date= 14 September 2012 |title= Overcrowded trains are 'shaming Britain' |work= Evening Standard|location=London|date= 26 March 2007 |access-date= 23 February 2009 }}</ref> From 27 May 2009 FCC introduced extra carriages, which meant that this service became a 12-car train rather than an 8-car.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}}

==Pricing==
===Fares===
In mid-2006, First Capital Connect introduced evening peak-time fares for northbound travel out of London as a franchise commitment with the Department for Transport. Previously passengers with an off-peak travelcard could travel on any train after the morning peak had finished at 09:30 however, passengers would no longer be able to use an off-peak ticket for trains leaving London stations between 16:30 and 19:00. Passengers using these peak-hour trains would pay an additional charge to travel. The evening peak restriction does not affect southbound travel. This was introduced due to severe peak-time overcrowding.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=134|title= Off Peak Ticket Restrictions|access-date= 14 March 2010|publisher= First Capital Connect|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100111133325/http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=134|archive-date= 11 January 2010|url-status= dead}}</ref>

Students at some [[Sixth form college|sixth-form colleges]] were hit by price increases of over £300 per annum when FCC replaced a discount scheme introduced by previous franchise holders WAGN and Thameslink, with its own 'Student Connect'<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=354 |title=FCC Student Connect website |access-date=31 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727135927/http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=354 |archive-date=27 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> scheme. The level of discount was greatly reduced, and although in theory the scheme is fairer, in practice many students and parents were left out of pocket.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/displayarticle.asp?id=342964 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120722075727/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/displayarticle.asp?id=342964 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 22 July 2012 |work= Cambridge News |title= Rail users hit by 170% fares rise |author= Morris, Laura |date= 26 August 2008 }}</ref>

==Incidents==
In September 2010, First Capital Connect admitted in an email that, despite being trained in first aid, staff were not allowed to offer medical help to members of the public. An incident was reported by the BBC after a passenger collapsed and FCC's station staff would not help.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11385064 |work=BBC News |title=First Capital Connect staff 'cannot give medical help' |date=21 September 2010 |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-date=16 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116222315/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11385064 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2010, passengers trapped on a failed train near [[Cambridge]] gave up waiting, forced the train doors open and walked up the line to the nearby [[Foxton station]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-11655182 | work=BBC News | title=Passengers break out of stuck train in Cambridgeshire | date=29 October 2010 | access-date=20 June 2018 | archive-date=17 December 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217215843/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-11655182 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 26 May 2011 at 18:27, passengers were trapped on a failed Class 377 train between St Pancras International (Low Level) and Kentish Town stations, forming the 16:30 Brighton to Bedford service. Another train of the same type was sent to assist the failed train, and was eventually coupled to it at 20:20 but by this time passengers had used the emergency release handles to open the train doors in an attempt to improve ventilation (as the air-conditioning and lighting systems were no longer functioning by this point). The train began to move at 21:03 but this movement was immediately stopped because passengers were egressing onto the track from the carriages within the tunnel. The passengers were escorted back on to the train, which was authorised to move forward again at 21:12. Three sets of doors towards the rear of the train were still fully open while it travelled approximately a mile to Kentish Town, where all passengers then left the train.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/current_investigations_register/110526_St_Pancras_International.cfm | publisher= RAIB | title= Investigation into an incident near London St Pancras International (Low Level), 26 May 2011 | date= 7 November 2011 | access-date= 7 November 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110610172252/http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/current_investigations_register/110526_st_pancras_international.cfm | archive-date= 10 June 2011 | url-status= dead }}</ref> First Capital Connect admitted a number of failings in the way in which it handled this incident, including a need to improve communications with passengers.<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/2011/report-major-disruption-26th-may-2011/ |publisher= First Capital Connect |title= Report into major disruption on 26 May 2011 |date= 19 July 2011 |access-date= 7 November 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120516085445/http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/2011/report-major-disruption-26th-may-2011/ |archive-date= 16 May 2012 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

==Rolling stock==
First Capital Connect inherited a fleet of Class 319 units from the former Thameslink operator. It also inherited a fleet of Class 313, 317 and 365 units from WAGN on the Great Northern routes.

===Fleet at end of franchise===
The rolling stock composition is specified by the franchise agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-agreement-first-capital-connect/fcc-franchise-agreement.pdf |publisher=Department for Transport |access-date=14 December 2012 |title=Agreement between the Secretary of State for Transport and First Capital Connect Limited |archive-date=17 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217022722/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/rail-passenger-franchise-agreement-first-capital-connect/fcc-franchise-agreement.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| 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|Class 03]]
|[[File:FCC 03179 at NVR.jpg|100px]]
|[[diesel locomotive|Diesel Locomotive]]
|28
|46
|1
|Shunting
|1957–1961
|-
|[[British Rail Class 313|Class 313]]
|[[File:Ready to depart, the 12.54 to Moorgate from Hitchin. - panoramio.jpg|100px]]
|rowspan="8" |[[Electric multiple unit|EMU]]
|75
|120
|44
|Inner suburban [[Great Northern route|Great Northern]]<br />([[Moorgate station|Moorgate]] - {{rws|Letchworth Garden City}}/{{rws|Hertford North}}/{{rws|Welwyn Garden City}})
|1976–1977
|-
|[[British Rail Class 317|Class 317/1]]
|[[File:317342 AND 317340 Peterborough.JPG|100px]]
| rowspan="7" |100
| rowspan="7" |160
|12
|Fast & Semi Fast [[Great Northern route|Great Northern]]<br />[[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] to [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]] & [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]]
| rowspan="2" |1981–1982
|-
|[[British Rail Class 317|Class 317/7]]
|[[File:317719_NatEx_East_Anglia_LST.JPG|100px]]
|2
|Used to provide cover for [[British Rail Class 365|Class 365]] units undergoing refurbishment.<br>Withdrawn at end of franchise.
|-
|[[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]]
|[[File:Blackfriars station MMB 09 319378.jpg|100px]]
|84
|[[Thameslink]]<br />([[Brighton station|Brighton]] - [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]], [[Sutton railway station (London)|Sutton]] - [[Luton railway station|Luton]] and [[Kentish Town station|Kentish Town]] - [[Sevenoaks railway station|Sevenoaks]])
|1987–1988 <br> 1990
|-
|[[British Rail Class 321|Class 321]]
|[[File:Peterborough railway station MMB 02 321404.jpg|100px]]
|13
|Fast & Semi Fast [[Great Northern route|Great Northern]]<br />[[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] to [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]] & [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]]
|1989–1990
|-
|[[British Rail Class 365|Class 365 ''Networker Express'']]
|[[File:Class 365 8-car unit at Ely.JPG|100px]]
|40
|Fast & Semi Fast [[Great Northern route|Great Northern]]<br />[[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] to [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]] & [[King's Lynn railway station|King's Lynn]] via [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]]
|1994–1995
|-
|[[British Rail Class 377|Class 377/2 ''Electrostar'']]
|[[File:Harrow and Wealdstone station MMB 14 377213.jpg|100px]]
|11
|rowspan=2|[[Thameslink]]<br />([[Brighton railway station|Brighton]] - [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]] and peak services: [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]] - [[Ashford International railway station|Ashford International]]/[[Rochester railway station|Rochester]]) <br>Class 377/2s sub-leased from [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]].
|2003–2004
|-
|[[British Rail Class 377|Class 377/5 ''Electrostar'']]
|[[File:377519 at Bedford.jpg|100px]]
|23
|2008–2009
|}

All Thameslink route rolling stock was [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrically powered]] dual-voltage four-car units using [[25 kV AC]] overhead power north of Farringdon and 750 V DC [[third rail]] to the south.

In addition to its EMU fleet, FCC owned the last mainline-registered [[British Rail Class 03|Class 03]] diesel shunter, 03179 ''Clive''.

===Additional rolling stock===
An additional four [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319s]] were transferred from [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] in March 2009 to expand capacity on the Thameslink route, giving FCC all 86 319s.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} The DfT ordered 23 new dual-voltage [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377]] units for Southern, which entered service in 2010 and were sublet to FCC until the new Thameslink rolling stock is introduced, to further enhance capacity on the Thameslink services.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/rollingstock/rollingstockplan?page=2#a1003 |title=Rolling Stock Plan - Indicative Number of Additional Vehicles required by English TOCs by 2014 |access-date=21 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304140249/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/rollingstock/rollingstockplan?page=2#a1003 |archive-date=4 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> FCC also gained 13 [[British Rail Class 321|Class 321]]s from [[London Midland]]: 321401-406 in May 2009, 321407-410 later in 2009, 321418-420 in 2010. These enhanced the capacity on Peterborough / Cambridge - King's Cross services. Three [[British Rail Class 313|Class 313]] units from [[London Overground]] moved to the Great Northern route for inner-suburban services, King's Cross/Moorgate - Welwyn Garden City/Hertford North/Letchworth Garden City, once all of London Overground's new {{brc|378|s}} were delivered.

===Diagrams===
[[File:313 First Capital Connect and Great Northern.png|alt=|800x800px]]

[[File:FCC Class 319.png|alt=|800x800px]]

[[File:Class 377 First Capital Connect Diagram.PNG|800px]]

===Depots===
FCC operated two depots:
*[[Bedford Cauldwell depot|Bedford Cauldwell]] - code BF
*[[Hornsey Electric Multiple Unit Depot|Hornsey]] - code HE

==Refurbishment==
During its tenure, FCC overhauled all of its rolling stock painting their exteriors in the FCC livery and refreshing the interiors.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=250 |author= FCC |title= We're Improving |access-date= 4 November 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071217075313/http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=250 |archive-date= 17 December 2007 |url-status= dead }}</ref> It had an [[Pound sterling|£]]8 million programme of upgrades for several major stations.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |date=6 April 2006 |title=First Capital Connect links London |url=http://railwaypeople.com/rail-news-articles/first-capital-connect-links-london-1027.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060502155021/http://www.railwaypeople.com/rail-news-articles/first-capital-connect-links-london-1027.html |archive-date=2 May 2006 |access-date=10 April 2006}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|London transport}}
*[[Commuter rail in the United Kingdom]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|First Capital Connect}}
* {{official website}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-bef|before='''[[Thameslink (train operating company 1997–2006)|Thameslink]]'''<br /><small>Thameslink franchise</small>}}
{{S-ttl|rows=2|title=Operator of Thameslink and Great Northern franchise
|years=2006 – 2014}}
{{S-aft|after='''[[Govia Thameslink Railway]]'''<br><small>[[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern|Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise]]</small>|rows=2}}
|-
{{S-bef|before='''[[West Anglia Great Northern]]'''<br /><small>West Anglia Great Northern franchise</small>}}
{{end}}

{{UK TOCs|defunct|state=collapsed}}
{{Great Northern Route}}
{{Transport in London}}

[[Category:Defunct train operating companies in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:FirstGroup railway companies]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 2006]]
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 2014]]
[[Category:Railway operators in London]]
[[Category:Thameslink]]
[[Category:2006 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2014 disestablishments in England]]