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Govia Thameslink franchise 'not providing value for money' | Govia Thameslink franchise 'not providing value for money' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Passengers on Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern services have suffered the worst rail disruption in the UK, according to a highly critical report. | Passengers on Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern services have suffered the worst rail disruption in the UK, according to a highly critical report. |
The National Audit Office (NAO) said the UK's largest rail franchise had not provided value for money. | The National Audit Office (NAO) said the UK's largest rail franchise had not provided value for money. |
It found the services had been the "worst on the network" since Govia Thameslink (GTR) took over the routes. | It found the services had been the "worst on the network" since Govia Thameslink (GTR) took over the routes. |
The Department for Transport (DfT) said industrial action had caused a shortage of train crews. | The Department for Transport (DfT) said industrial action had caused a shortage of train crews. |
It is being blamed for not ensuring adequate staffing before awarding the franchise. | It is being blamed for not ensuring adequate staffing before awarding the franchise. |
Government spending watchdog the NAO said GTR had too few drivers when it was awarded the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise. | Government spending watchdog the NAO said GTR had too few drivers when it was awarded the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise. |
It added that since GTR started operating the full franchise in July 2015, 7.7% of services - about 146,000 services - had either been cancelled or delayed by more than 30 minutes, compared with 2.8% on the rest of the network. | It added that since GTR started operating the full franchise in July 2015, 7.7% of services - about 146,000 services - had either been cancelled or delayed by more than 30 minutes, compared with 2.8% on the rest of the network. |
Of these, more than one third were caused by train crew shortages. | Of these, more than one third were caused by train crew shortages. |
The RMT union is calling for GTR to be stripped of the franchise, after the "dynamite report blows wide open the whole scandal" of the firm's operation. | The RMT union is calling for GTR to be stripped of the franchise, after the "dynamite report blows wide open the whole scandal" of the firm's operation. |
Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said: "Over the last three years long-suffering passengers on the Thameslink franchise have experienced the worst performance on the rail network. | Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said: "Over the last three years long-suffering passengers on the Thameslink franchise have experienced the worst performance on the rail network. |
"Some of the problems could have been avoided if the Department [for Transport] had taken more care to consider passengers in its design of the franchise." | "Some of the problems could have been avoided if the Department [for Transport] had taken more care to consider passengers in its design of the franchise." |
A NAO spokesman said the DfT "did not seek sufficient assurance that Govia Thameslink would have enough train drivers when it took on the franchise". | A NAO spokesman said the DfT "did not seek sufficient assurance that Govia Thameslink would have enough train drivers when it took on the franchise". |
"Govia Thameslink received fewer drivers than it expected from the previous operator of the Thameslink and Great Northern routes, and driver shortages have persisted on Great Northern services," he added. | "Govia Thameslink received fewer drivers than it expected from the previous operator of the Thameslink and Great Northern routes, and driver shortages have persisted on Great Northern services," he added. |
'Pass the buck' | 'Pass the buck' |
The DfT admitted disruption to passengers was "unacceptable", but said services had improved over the last 12 months. | The DfT admitted disruption to passengers was "unacceptable", but said services had improved over the last 12 months. |
A spokesman said: "The primary cause of delays and cancellations to passengers has been lack of available staff, which is a direct result of strike action." | A spokesman said: "The primary cause of delays and cancellations to passengers has been lack of available staff, which is a direct result of strike action." |
Speaking on the Today programme Labour's Lilian Greenwood MP, chair of the Transport Committee, accused the DfT of "passing the buck", adding: "Clearly the industrial action has created many of the problems that passengers have faced and it's important that the dispute is resolved. | Speaking on the Today programme Labour's Lilian Greenwood MP, chair of the Transport Committee, accused the DfT of "passing the buck", adding: "Clearly the industrial action has created many of the problems that passengers have faced and it's important that the dispute is resolved. |
"But I'm not hearing from the DfT that they are acknowledging their part in this and the things they need to do to improve the situation for passengers, who just a week ago saw their rail fares go up again, without seeing the improvements they were promised. | "But I'm not hearing from the DfT that they are acknowledging their part in this and the things they need to do to improve the situation for passengers, who just a week ago saw their rail fares go up again, without seeing the improvements they were promised. |
"Part of the reason they created this difficulty was by creating this mega franchise, by not looking at the implications of trying to introduce new services onto a very congested part of the railway where there was unreliable infrastructure." | "Part of the reason they created this difficulty was by creating this mega franchise, by not looking at the implications of trying to introduce new services onto a very congested part of the railway where there was unreliable infrastructure." |
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "The prime problem on this network... was the action of trade unions. | |
"There were mistakes made in my department, mistakes made in Network Rail, mistakes made in the operation of this railway line. I am extremely sorry." | |
GTR said Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern was one of the UK's largest rail franchises, carrying almost one million passengers a day. | GTR said Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern was one of the UK's largest rail franchises, carrying almost one million passengers a day. |
Charles Horton, chief executive of GTR, said: "The report identifies numerous root causes for the challenges it has faced. | Charles Horton, chief executive of GTR, said: "The report identifies numerous root causes for the challenges it has faced. |
"These difficulties have sometimes been greater than expected and we regret the disruption caused to our passengers." | "These difficulties have sometimes been greater than expected and we regret the disruption caused to our passengers." |