Connex South Eastern: former routes and current operators
Connex South Eastern was the former operator of suburban and regional trains between London, Kent and parts of East Sussex. Its historical network is associated chiefly with today’s Southeastern services.
Reviewed 6 November 2026.
Operator history and changes
The Connex South Eastern franchise began in 1996. It served several London terminals and a wide range of journeys, from short suburban trips in south-east London to coastal and inland Kent destinations. It was a separate franchise from Connex South Central, despite the shared Connex name and overlapping London geography.
The Strategic Rail Authority ended the Connex South Eastern contract in 2003. Services passed to the publicly owned South Eastern Trains operation in November of that year, and then to the Southeastern-branded franchise in 2006. Today’s Southeastern also includes later developments: its high-speed services from St Pancras began after the Connex period.
Former routes and principal stations
Historical London suburban services
The former network used several south and central London terminals. The station examples indicate the spread of the suburban network, not one direct route.
Historical Kent and East Sussex routes
Regional services reached the Kent coast and the Hastings route using the conventional railway. Present high-speed alternatives are a later development.
Travelling on these routes today
Use Southeastern’s current timetable for a journey on the successor network. Choose the exact London terminal when comparing options: a train to Charing Cross, Cannon Street, Victoria or St Pancras can follow a different route and have different stopping points. For a coastal journey, compare the current conventional and high-speed alternatives rather than relying on the former Connex route diagram.
Tickets and journey choices
Connex fares, discounts and customer-service contacts are obsolete. Current tickets have specific route and product conditions, including whether travel on high-speed services is permitted. Do not assume a ticket for one London route covers every faster alternative. Check the itinerary and restrictions supplied when you buy.
Accessibility and assistance
Use Southeastern’s current assisted-travel information and station access details. At London interchanges, the accessible route to another platform or terminal may be longer than a simple map suggests. Historical Connex rolling-stock descriptions and station guides cannot establish today’s wheelchair spaces, lifts, staffing or arrangements during engineering work.
Sources and further information
Use the current operator's information to check the latest timetable, disruption and assistance arrangements for your travel date.