c2c is a United Kingdom train operating company. Formerly known as LTS
Rail, it is owned by National Express Coaches, who also own Midland Mainline.
c2c provides commuter services between Essex and London. The company operates
over lines now owned by Railtrack, but originally laid down by the London,
Tilbury and Southend railway in the pre-grouping days of Britain's original
privately-owned rail network. The change from 'LTS', a name which, like 'First
Great Western' and 'GNER', recalls those early days, to a meaningless, uncapitalised acronym is explained on the c2c website,
www.c2c-online.co.uk :
Why the name change?
LTS originally stood for London, Tilbury and Southend - the principal areas
served by the railway back in its early days in the 1800s. But that was in the days
of steam, before places like Basildon or Chafford Hundred were even thought
of.
The name harks back 150 years and in no way represents today's personality of the
communities the line serves or the vibrant new railway that is being created for the
21st century through a multi-million pound investment programme.
The reference to Chafford Hundred 'not being thought of' is telling, since the
name of Chafford Hundred indicates an ancient farming region. Chafford
Hundred station is now advertised as giving access to the huge Lakeside shopping
centre. The reaction of most passengers to the name change was one of absolute
puzzlement, as it's not at all clear what 'c2c' means.
The company operates some 300 services a day using a fleet of 74 Electrostar
multiple units. c2c is introducing zoned tickets, like the London Underground
Travelcards - the first surface rail company to do so. Most services run to
London's Fenchurch Street station, but some late night trains use Liverpool
Street instead. At Tilbury Town station, there is a bus link to Tilbury
Riverside, where a ferry can be taken to Gravesend in Kent. On the following
map, east is at the top:
Shoeburyness
|
Thorpe Bay
|
Southend East
|
Southend Central
|
Westcliff
|
Chalkwell
|
Leigh-on-Sea
|
Benfleet
|
Pitsea
|\
| \
| \
| \
| \
| Stanford-le-Hope
| \
Basildon \
| East Tilbury
| \
| Tilbury Town = = = = Tilbury Riverside
| |
Laindon Grays
| /|
West / |
Horndon / |
| / |
| Chafford |
| Hundred |
| / Purfleet
| Ockendon |
| / |
|/ Rainham
| /
Upminster /
| /
| Dagenham
| Dock
| /
| /
| /
| /
|/
Barking
|\
| \
| \
| West Ham
| \
Stratford \
| \
| Limehouse
| \
| \
| \
| \
Liverpool Street Fenchurch Street
London Underground connections: Circle Line at Liverpool Street and
Fenchurch Street; District Line at Fenchurch Street, Barking and
Upminster; Jubilee Line at West Ham and Stratford; Central Line at
Liverpool Street and Stratford; and Metropolitan and
Hammersmith and City Lines at Liverpool Street. Docklands Light Railway
connections at Limehouse and Stratford.