Following the unacceptable chaos caused by the botched introduction of the new train timetable, I signed a joint cross-party letter to the Transport Secretary, Christ Grayling, seeking urgent assurances that the Government is tackling this as a priority:
Dear Secretary of State,
The significant and ongoing problems on the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern rail networks over the past 12 days have affected hundreds of thousands of commuters across our constituencies. The abject failure of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to deliver anything remotely close to a decent service resulted in 455 GTR services cancelled or delayed in just one day.
Many of us have been contacted by constituents who have been late for work, medical appointments or to meet their children due to train cancellations. This anger has only been worsened by poor communication between GTR and passengers regarding delays, with reports that GTR have known of cancellations hours before informing customers. There have been widespread reports of overcrowding on platforms and on trains, as well as significant issues faced by disabled passengers needing to travel.
We were pleased to hear from your office committing to meet with Members of Parliament representing communities affected by this disruption on Monday, 4th June. As you stated earlier this week, the disruption following these changes has been ‘wholly unsatisfactory’ and it is essential that this issue is resolved as soon as possible.
As representatives of constituencies served by GTR we urgently need to give clear assurances to our constituents that the Government is tackling this as a priority. We therefore ask that at our meeting on Monday you provide us with clear information on: how the situation was allowed to get to his point; what the department is doing right now to rectify this situation; and what plans the Government has in the longer term to resolve the many significant issues with this franchise.
In particular, we would be grateful if you could confirm whether your Department was aware that delays to the finalisation of the timetable changes had left just three weeks between
Network Rail confirming the new timetables and the planned launch date, rather than the expected twelve weeks? If so, could you clarify why the Department did not encourage GTR to delay implementing the new timetable?
We remain committed to solving rail disruption as urgently as possible and ensuring that customers do not face such inconveniences in the future.
Sincerely,
Sarah Jones MP
Bim Afolami MP
Caroline Lucas MP
Ellie Reeves MP
Gavin Shuker MP
Helen Hayes MP
Rt Hon Joan Ryan MP
Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP
Marsha de Cordova MP
Mohammad Yasin MP
Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Soames MP
Peter Kyle MP
Rosie Duffield MP
Siobhain McDonagh MP
Stephen Lloyd MP
Steve Reed MP
Teresa Pearce MP
Tim Loughton MP
Rt Hon Tom Brake MP
Vicky Foxcroft MP