Claire Perry MP couldn’t hack sorting it and resigned as Railways Minister last week. Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, on the other hand is keen to take responsibility where hapless ministers and private sector pirates continue to fail commuters.
A GTR Southern train – with government blessing, GTR’s recent new timetable removed 300+ daily services
Hounslow commuters change trains at Clapham Junction, many from Osterley & Spring Grove Ward’s Syon Lane and Isleworth Stations to get to work at Victoria, Croydon and elsewhere using Southern Rail franchised to Govia Thameslink Railways. A few conversations I’ve had with constituents include horror stories of half length trains, jammed and hot carriages, delays and cancellations caused, in the main, by a badly managed franchise where the onus is on cutting costs and boodting shareholder profits at the expense of a vital public service.
This week the Mayor of London wrote to the Transport Secretary asking for TfL to be put in temporary charge of the Southern part of the GTR franchise. His letter to borough councillors describing that approach can be found here.
In 2014 the Department for Transport agreed to pay GTR £8.9 billion over the seven year franchise with GTR receiving all passenger revenues.
GTR owner, Go-Ahead Group plc Chief Executive David Brown received £2.16 million in total between July 2014 and June 2015, with the majority of this comprised of bonus payments.
TL 22.7.2016
Tony Louki's Report Back 