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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/may/30/govia-thameslink-rail-chaos-ministers-urged-to-take-emergency-measures
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Govia Thameslink rail chaos: ministers urged to take 'emergency measures' | Govia Thameslink rail chaos: ministers urged to take 'emergency measures' |
| (1 day later) | |
| MPs and rail passenger groups are demanding emergency measures from the Department for Transport to end the travel chaos on Govia Thameslink services in and out of London over the last 10 days. | |
| Since the new timetable was introduced on 20 May, commuters trying to use the supposedly upgraded network have experienced mass last-minute cancellations, long delays and severely overcrowded services. | Since the new timetable was introduced on 20 May, commuters trying to use the supposedly upgraded network have experienced mass last-minute cancellations, long delays and severely overcrowded services. |
| Similar problems have been endured by passengers using Northern services in the north of England. The problems have led to renewed calls for the train network to be nationalised. | |
| A lack of trains and properly trained drivers has been blamed for the chaos, which has affected almost every part of the Govia-run network – the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern, and Gatwick Express franchises. Collectively they account for around 20% of all UK train services. | A lack of trains and properly trained drivers has been blamed for the chaos, which has affected almost every part of the Govia-run network – the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern, and Gatwick Express franchises. Collectively they account for around 20% of all UK train services. |
| Each day has brought more disruption around London and increasing anger at the lack of information. Govia’s senior staff have been largely invisible, as have government ministers. | Each day has brought more disruption around London and increasing anger at the lack of information. Govia’s senior staff have been largely invisible, as have government ministers. |
| Passengers are furious because in many cases, and contrary to claims by ministers, the timetable change has left them with fewer trains and longer journey times. | Passengers are furious because in many cases, and contrary to claims by ministers, the timetable change has left them with fewer trains and longer journey times. |
| A petition urging the government to immediately cancel Govia Thameslink Railway’s contract had attracted nearly 4,000 signatures by Wednesday afternoon, 24 hours after it was launched. | A petition urging the government to immediately cancel Govia Thameslink Railway’s contract had attracted nearly 4,000 signatures by Wednesday afternoon, 24 hours after it was launched. |
| Crispin Blunt, the Conservative MP for Reigate, said the situation was an “emergency which needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency”. | Crispin Blunt, the Conservative MP for Reigate, said the situation was an “emergency which needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency”. |
| Blunt added: “It is clear that neither GTR [Govia Thameslink] nor Network Rail were sufficiently resourced or funded to manage such a huge operation. | Blunt added: “It is clear that neither GTR [Govia Thameslink] nor Network Rail were sufficiently resourced or funded to manage such a huge operation. |
| “The result has been a catastrophic number of cancellations and services being simply withdrawn from the daily timetable … Government cannot just sit back and let this happen.” | “The result has been a catastrophic number of cancellations and services being simply withdrawn from the daily timetable … Government cannot just sit back and let this happen.” |
| Edward Carder, who leads the Royston & Villages Rail Users Group, said the last 10 days had been “utterly shambolic”, with this week’s service worse than last. | Edward Carder, who leads the Royston & Villages Rail Users Group, said the last 10 days had been “utterly shambolic”, with this week’s service worse than last. |
| “It is impossible to know even 15 minutes ahead whether a particular train will run. | “It is impossible to know even 15 minutes ahead whether a particular train will run. |
| “The Department for Transport need to force Govia to publish the timetable at least 24 hours ahead and then force the company to stick to it. | “The Department for Transport need to force Govia to publish the timetable at least 24 hours ahead and then force the company to stick to it. |
| “We have had heartbreaking stories of children scrambling to get to GCSE exams in a panic and lost hospital appointments due to missed trains. It is essentially impossible to conduct your life in reliance on the trains at present, the service is broken.” | “We have had heartbreaking stories of children scrambling to get to GCSE exams in a panic and lost hospital appointments due to missed trains. It is essentially impossible to conduct your life in reliance on the trains at present, the service is broken.” |
| The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, has written to the affected MPs blaming the problems on Network Rail. He has said he is “monitoring” the situation. | The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, has written to the affected MPs blaming the problems on Network Rail. He has said he is “monitoring” the situation. |
| “The disruption suffered by passengers is wholly unacceptable. I have been very clear with Network Rail that it was far too late in finalising planned timetable changes and this must not happen again,” Grayling said. | “The disruption suffered by passengers is wholly unacceptable. I have been very clear with Network Rail that it was far too late in finalising planned timetable changes and this must not happen again,” Grayling said. |
| A GTR spokesman said: “We apologise to passengers for the continued disruption linked to the introduction of the new timetable. We are working on a recovery plan with rail industry partners.” | A GTR spokesman said: “We apologise to passengers for the continued disruption linked to the introduction of the new timetable. We are working on a recovery plan with rail industry partners.” |
| Network Rail said late timetables have not helped the recent events but there were many other factors involved. | Network Rail said late timetables have not helped the recent events but there were many other factors involved. |
| This article was amended on 1 June 2018 to make it clear that affected Northern rail services operate only in the north of England, not Scotland, which is served by the operator ScotRail. | |
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