The name of Sussex's main rail company is changing for the fifth time in ten years at a cost of £250,000.

From May 30, South Central will again be known as Southern, a name first used in the Twenties.

All 160 stations on the network, which covers parts of south London as well as Brighton and the South Coast, will be painted in the green Southern livery.

Staff will get new uniforms and trains will be painted in shades of green.

The company will be known as Southern until the end of the present contract in 2009, when it could change again if another firm is awarded the franchise.

Managers, who revealed the change at a Press conference in London yesterday, say it signals the start of a two to three-year programme of improvements.

Keith Ludeman, the chief executive of the holding company, Govia, promised Southern would be a rail company for the 21st Century.

He said: "We want Southern to be a different kind of train operator, where passengers expect more and are at the heart of everything we say and do.

"Our challenge is to transform the business by running a better train service and offering our passengers a markedly improved travelling experience."

Mr Ludeman said Southern proved the most popular name following research into passenger opinions while green was also the most popular colour for staff uniforms.

He said: "It's back to the traditional. I've always believed trains are green and buses are red."

This is the fifth name change for travellers on the Brighton line in the past ten years.

From 1994 to 1996 in the run-up to privatisation, it was British Rail's Network SouthEast.

It then became South Central for a few months before French-owned Connex took over in 1996 and it became Connex South Central.

When Govia took over the much-criticised Connex's franchise in August 2001, it became South Central again.

Charles Horton, the new Southern managing director, said he hoped the company would remain in charge of the Brighton line beyond 2009.

He said: "We have already made expensive investment in our network, committing £1 billion to new trains, depots, upgrades and on providing better facilities at our stations.

"The change to Southern is a declaration of our firm intent to continue that investment programme and a recognition that there are still areas requiring improvement.

"The new name is also a demonstration of our confidence that our progress will continue and that we will deliver more for our passengers."

The change back to Southern was welcomed by rail passengers.

Shelley Atlas, of the Brighton Line Commuters group, said: "People have been confused with South Central and South Eastern.

"Now passengers will find it easier to identify with Southern, as that is exactly what it is."