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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jan/25/government-reported-to-be-planning-to-nationalise-southern-rail-franchise
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| Government planning possible take-over of Southern rail – report | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The government is considering taking direct control of the rail franchise that includes Southern rail, it has been claimed. | The government is considering taking direct control of the rail franchise that includes Southern rail, it has been claimed. |
| Rail Business Intelligence magazine said the Department for Transport (DfT) was preparing a number of options, ranging from splitting off Southern from Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), to a complete “managed exit” to take direct control of the entire franchise until a new contract could be let. | Rail Business Intelligence magazine said the Department for Transport (DfT) was preparing a number of options, ranging from splitting off Southern from Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), to a complete “managed exit” to take direct control of the entire franchise until a new contract could be let. |
| The plan has its own codename and a potential interim managing director has been identified, said the magazine. The news came as talks continued between train drivers’ union Aslef and Southern to try to resolve a row over driver-only trains, one of the disputes that has affected services for several months, as well as staff shortages and other problems. | The plan has its own codename and a potential interim managing director has been identified, said the magazine. The news came as talks continued between train drivers’ union Aslef and Southern to try to resolve a row over driver-only trains, one of the disputes that has affected services for several months, as well as staff shortages and other problems. |
| The talks started a week ago, but neither side has commented on whether any progress is being made. A small number of members of the RMT union at Southern went on strike on Wednesday and will walk out again on Friday. | The talks started a week ago, but neither side has commented on whether any progress is being made. A small number of members of the RMT union at Southern went on strike on Wednesday and will walk out again on Friday. |
| The RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, said: “Instead of dragging this farce out any longer the government should now do the decent thing, pull the plug on the GTR contract, take the lines under public control and draw a line under this shambles that shames Britain’s railways. | The RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, said: “Instead of dragging this farce out any longer the government should now do the decent thing, pull the plug on the GTR contract, take the lines under public control and draw a line under this shambles that shames Britain’s railways. |
| “As part of that process they should get round the table with the union and reach a genuine and lasting negotiated settlement to the ongoing guards safety dispute. Transport secretary Chris Grayling should stop pussy-footing about, get his act together and get Southern/GTR off the tracks before more damage is done.” | “As part of that process they should get round the table with the union and reach a genuine and lasting negotiated settlement to the ongoing guards safety dispute. Transport secretary Chris Grayling should stop pussy-footing about, get his act together and get Southern/GTR off the tracks before more damage is done.” |
| A spokesman for the transport department said there were no plans to strip GTR of its franchise, describing the report as “pure speculation”. | A spokesman for the transport department said there were no plans to strip GTR of its franchise, describing the report as “pure speculation”. |
| A spokeswoman for GTR said: “The article is just speculation and we wouldn’t comment on it. As you would expect there are always discussions with the DfT regarding the GTR franchise contract and our other franchise contracts.” | A spokeswoman for GTR said: “The article is just speculation and we wouldn’t comment on it. As you would expect there are always discussions with the DfT regarding the GTR franchise contract and our other franchise contracts.” |
| The department said it was still considering whether GTR was technically in breach of its franchise commitments. While it has failed to meet its obligations in terms of running trains on Southern, the company claimed force majeure to avoid further penalties, including possible loss of the franchise. | The department said it was still considering whether GTR was technically in breach of its franchise commitments. While it has failed to meet its obligations in terms of running trains on Southern, the company claimed force majeure to avoid further penalties, including possible loss of the franchise. |
| The claim means that it did not run trains due to circumstances beyond its control, mainly industrial action by rail unions. Despite pressing from the transport select committee, ministers have yet to rule on whether GTR’s claim of force majeure should be accepted. | The claim means that it did not run trains due to circumstances beyond its control, mainly industrial action by rail unions. Despite pressing from the transport select committee, ministers have yet to rule on whether GTR’s claim of force majeure should be accepted. |
| Manual Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, said: “Anyone who uses either Southern or Thameslink knows that Govia Thameslink Railways shouldn’t be allowed to run a bath, never mind train companies. | Manual Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, said: “Anyone who uses either Southern or Thameslink knows that Govia Thameslink Railways shouldn’t be allowed to run a bath, never mind train companies. |
| “I spoke at a meeting at Burgess Hill earlier this week where the overwhelming consensus was for the government to sack GTR immediately. I hope this will now happen and for once, failing Grayling won’t chicken out – but I won’t be holding my breath.” | “I spoke at a meeting at Burgess Hill earlier this week where the overwhelming consensus was for the government to sack GTR immediately. I hope this will now happen and for once, failing Grayling won’t chicken out – but I won’t be holding my breath.” |