Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in which reporting periods Southern Railway's performance met the specified benchmarks set out in the franchise agreement since that agreement was signed.

Performance benchmarks were set for the entire Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) franchise, not by constituent business groups, e.g. Southern. Since Rail Industry period 7 in financial year 2015/16 (ending mid October 2015), GTR exceeded the breach level for the Cancellations benchmark. Last year the then Secretary of State issued GTR with a Remedial Plan Notice requiring them to set out the measures they will take in order to improve their performance. The then Secretary of State has published the Remedial Plan and it includes benchmarks against which GTR are measured for the duration of the Plan.