The South Central network extends across several routes from Bournemouth to Ashford and as far north as Watford. Their principal line is Brighton to Victoria and the fastest trains, stopping just at East Croydon, can do this journey in 50 minutes. Price ranges from £12 return at certain off peak times to around £30 at peak time. A big discrepancy in prices is apparent to other destinations. Brighton to Worthing, a journey of approximately 20 minutes, costs £3.70 off peak and £7 peak.
I tend to buy tickets on the day of travel as there doesn't appear to be a great incentive for discounts. Apparently they do a day ticket anywhere on the network for £10 if purchased online in advance.
Recently several new trains have been introduced. They are of the sprinter variety used by several other companies, with push button doors (a lot safer), air conditioning, comfortable seats and an irritating computerised tannoy. The old trains with open youself and slam doors, unclean corridors and disgusting toilets are apparently on their way out.
Despite the new trains there are frequent delays on South Central Services. Sometimes explanations are given but quite often they are not and the company is quite inflexible. For example I was at Lewes station on Saturday night. My train to Brighton due at 23.01 was running half an hour late. During that time a diverted train, en route to Brighton, passed through the station but did not stop. It would have been easy for the staff at Lewes station to contact the driver and ask him to stop but they did not think of this.
South Central are taking some time to enter the modern world. A lot of their stations, especially the local ones such as London Road Brighton, Portslade and Shoreham, are grim and desperately in need of tender loving care. In fairness they sometimes make an effort, errecting new shelters at East Worthing was a nice idea but they were vandalised three months ago and no replacements have arrived yet.
Customer service depends very much on who you talk to. Some staff, especially at barriers, try to help even when they are rushed off their feet. They are not paid much. At Victoria someone working in the ticket office on the underground or for South Eastern gets paid more so I'm told by an insider that people train with Connex then move to one of their rivals. Quite often ticket office staff will not give you the cheapest ticket, espeically if your journey is not to a common destination. I have argued a few times with staff at Brighton who say that a ticket brought at 08.56 cannot qualify for the after 09.00 rate even though the train was due to leave after 09.00.
The guards and ticket collectors are usually very friendly and helpful. Some of their trains from London divide at Haywards Heath, Eastbourne or Worthing and the guards make a point of walking along the corridors to check that everyone is in the right portion. They tell you where to change, crack a joke sometimes, and nearly always smile.
Another plus point is that they are quick at putting up posters to advise regular travellers of forthcoming track work. This is especially commendable at unstaffed stations. It does seem however that large portions of the line are closed for work at frequent inteverals, invariably weekends.
I quite like the way that South Central are attempting to crack down on fare evaders. It is theft at the end of the day and results in higher prices for people who do pay. Yet the company is not draconian, in the cases I have observed they have allowed common sense to dictate their policy. Automated ticket barriers may be a nuisance but they are fair and they also keep the undesirables off the platforms.
Overall I think that South Central are making some effort to improve their image but they need to focus more on the customer and learn a few things from their competitors.