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Southern: Government told to produce report into franchise Southern: Government has two weeks to decide on contract breach
(about 1 hour later)
The transport secretary has been given two weeks to produce a report on his handling of the Southern rail franchise or face a judicial review. The government has two weeks to decide if Southern rail is in breach of its contract, the High Court has ruled.
The Association of British Commuters (ABC) took the government to the High Court over what it described as the Southern rail "fiasco". The Association of British Commuters (ABC) took legal action over what it described as the Southern "fiasco".
ABC said ministers acted unlawfully by failing to determine whether managers had breached franchise obligations. The government has said it will not be publishing any new reports on Southern.
It said an independent report published by rail expert Chris Gibb last week made it clear the responsibility for disruption was "primarily caused by industrial action".
In a statement the Department for Transport (DfT) said: "We are pleased the High Court has thrown out the application for a judicial review by the Association of British Commuters."
Bitter dispute
It said the Gibb report made it clear "the responsibility for disruption... was primarily caused by industrial action led by RMT and Aslef and exceptional levels of staff sick leave."
The operator, owned by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with the two unions over driver-only operated trains.
The DfT added: "We have been considering whether the extensive disruption to the line last year was entirely beyond GTR's control and our decision was due to be communicated to the company imminently.
"We are more than happy to inform GTR of the verdict within the 14 days required by the judge."
The ruling comes as the drivers' union, Aslef, began a new overtime ban.The ruling comes as the drivers' union, Aslef, began a new overtime ban.
Mr Justice Ouseley said he was requiring Chris Grayling to publish a report within 14 days. Franchise obligations
Clive Sheldon speaking for the transport secretary said Mr Grayling was "fully aware" of the inconvenience being caused to Southern's 300,000 passengers. Clive Sheldon speaking for the transport secretary said Chris Grayling was "fully aware" of the inconvenience being caused to Southern's 300,000 passengers.
Aslef, which has been in dispute with Southern over the driver-only-operated trains and the role of train staff for over a year, started its latest overtime earlier.
Southern has been forced to introduced a revised timetable axing about a quarter of services affecting services in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire.Southern has been forced to introduced a revised timetable axing about a quarter of services affecting services in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire.
Before the hearing, Summer Dean, of ABC, said: "Passengers are the only people who still don't have a voice in this fiasco, and many thousands of them support us in our efforts to reveal the truth behind the Department for Transport's involvement in Southern Rail."Before the hearing, Summer Dean, of ABC, said: "Passengers are the only people who still don't have a voice in this fiasco, and many thousands of them support us in our efforts to reveal the truth behind the Department for Transport's involvement in Southern Rail."
ABC said ministers acted unlawfully by failing to determine whether managers had breached franchise obligations.ABC said ministers acted unlawfully by failing to determine whether managers had breached franchise obligations.