Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle the disruption caused by the introduction of the new (a) Govia Thameslink Railway and (b) Southeastern timetable.

The disruption to passengers on Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) services has been completely unsatisfactory. The Southeastern timetable introduced on 20 May is generally performing well, but the disruption on GTR services has had a knock on impact on some Southeastern services. Ministers and officials in the Department and are working around the clock with GTR to take steps to swiftly stabilise the train services including monitoring on-going performance and working closely with stakeholders to agree a revised and more consistent timetable.

In due course we will assess whether GTR met their contractual obligations and if they found to have materially breached the Franchise Agreement the Department will take the appropriate enforcement actions.

Govia Thameslink Railway and SouthEastern customers are entitled and encouraged to apply to their train operator for Delay Repay compensation for affected journeys. The Secretary of State has also announced a special compensation scheme for GTR customers. It is to be funded by the rail industry and will ensure regular rail customers receive appropriate redress for the disruption they have experienced.

We are in regular discussions with both Govia Thameslink Railway, SouthEastern, Network Rail and other train operating companies about the disruption to train services. We have made it explicitly clear that the current disruption which passengers are facing is totally unacceptable. It is the Department’s number one priority to restore timetable reliability as soon as possible.

My officials and I are in regular discussions with both Govia Thameslink Railway and SouthEastern, as well as Network Rail and other train operating companies. We have made it explicitly clear that the current disruption that passengers are facing is totally unacceptable. GTR are now removing services in advance from their timetable rather than on the day and reducing weekend services to pre-May levels in order to provide greater certainty to passengers. This will be in place until a full re-planning of driver resourcing can take place.