Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department has received from Govia Thameslink Railway on the effect on service levels of the shortage of train crew on the Govia Thameslink Railway franchise.

GTR exceeded the breach levels for cancellations last year and were required to agree a Remedial Plan with the Department. The main focus of the Remedial Plan was the recruitment and training of sufficient drivers to operate their services, including training requirements. To date, GTR have fulfilled their contractual obligations in respect of driver numbers.

Since April, there has been significant disruption on Southern services as a result of industrial action by conductors as well as conductor and driver absences. The information on the shortage of Southern train crew has been provided to the Department as part of GTR’s claim for force majeure; this claim is currently being assessed.