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| Govia Thameslink 'could lose franchise' over rail chaos | Govia Thameslink 'could lose franchise' over rail chaos |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Rail operator Govia Thameslink faces being stripped of its franchises unless performance on its services in the South East of England rapidly improves, the BBC understands. | Rail operator Govia Thameslink faces being stripped of its franchises unless performance on its services in the South East of England rapidly improves, the BBC understands. |
| A source said the government could begin the process within weeks. | A source said the government could begin the process within weeks. |
| Passengers on its Thameslink and Great Northern trains have endured more than a month of disruption following the introduction of new timetables in May. | Passengers on its Thameslink and Great Northern trains have endured more than a month of disruption following the introduction of new timetables in May. |
| Meanwhile, the firm said it is working on plans to compensate passengers. | |
| "The industry is working together on this and an announcement will be made in due course," said a spokesman for Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). | |
| The BBC understands that commuters are set to receive compensation worth a month's travel. | |
| GTR - which also runs Southern and the Gatwick Express services - changed the time of every train on its timetable on 20 May. | |
| Passengers were warned of disruption before the changes were brought in, but the implementation of the new timetable saw some services withdrawn and further cancellations without any warning. | Passengers were warned of disruption before the changes were brought in, but the implementation of the new timetable saw some services withdrawn and further cancellations without any warning. |
| Since then, GTR chief executive Charles Horton has resigned and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has faced calls to stand down - as MPs from across all parties voiced their concern at the disruption caused in their constituencies. | Since then, GTR chief executive Charles Horton has resigned and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has faced calls to stand down - as MPs from across all parties voiced their concern at the disruption caused in their constituencies. |
| 'Last chance saloon' | 'Last chance saloon' |
| Passengers have expressed their anger on social media, while last week a memo leaked by the RMT union revealed that extra security staff were at stations to protect staff from "unhappy customers". | Passengers have expressed their anger on social media, while last week a memo leaked by the RMT union revealed that extra security staff were at stations to protect staff from "unhappy customers". |
| But there is also frustration within government that while Northern, which encountered similar problems in the North of England, has introduced an interim timetable, Govia Thameslink's equivalent is still a fortnight away. | But there is also frustration within government that while Northern, which encountered similar problems in the North of England, has introduced an interim timetable, Govia Thameslink's equivalent is still a fortnight away. |
| "They are now in the last chance saloon," a government source told the BBC. | "They are now in the last chance saloon," a government source told the BBC. |
| What do passengers say? | What do passengers say? |
| Will Graves, from Arlesey in Bedfordshire, spends around £400 each month commuting to London - but told the BBC the current service is "the worst I can remember in my 14 years of commuting". | Will Graves, from Arlesey in Bedfordshire, spends around £400 each month commuting to London - but told the BBC the current service is "the worst I can remember in my 14 years of commuting". |
| Mr Graves said that trains are regularly cancelled and almost always delayed - often due to no driver being available. | Mr Graves said that trains are regularly cancelled and almost always delayed - often due to no driver being available. |
| "When you do get on a train, you're standing shoulder to shoulder - it's horrendous," said Mr Graves. "I think I've had only one journey that hasn't been delayed in the last month." | "When you do get on a train, you're standing shoulder to shoulder - it's horrendous," said Mr Graves. "I think I've had only one journey that hasn't been delayed in the last month." |
| Trent Gashi, who commutes from Flitwick, Befordshire, to London, described Govia Thameslink's service as an "utter farce" and said ticket price rises in 2018 had "added insult to injury". | Trent Gashi, who commutes from Flitwick, Befordshire, to London, described Govia Thameslink's service as an "utter farce" and said ticket price rises in 2018 had "added insult to injury". |
| "Trains are cancelled without notice, people are ferried on and off as if they are livestock," said Mr Gashi. | "Trains are cancelled without notice, people are ferried on and off as if they are livestock," said Mr Gashi. |
| "They make so much money out of people like us. It needs to be seriously addressed by the government." | "They make so much money out of people like us. It needs to be seriously addressed by the government." |
| Mick Cash, general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, has called for the UK's privatised rail networks to be brought back into public ownership "on a permanent basis". | Mick Cash, general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, has called for the UK's privatised rail networks to be brought back into public ownership "on a permanent basis". |
| He described the "last chance saloon" comment as "empty rhetoric" that tells "these basket-case companies" that they have been "let off the hook again while services are reduced to chaos". | He described the "last chance saloon" comment as "empty rhetoric" that tells "these basket-case companies" that they have been "let off the hook again while services are reduced to chaos". |
| 'Months of chaos' | 'Months of chaos' |
| He added: "This is no time for empty threats from unnamed government sources." | He added: "This is no time for empty threats from unnamed government sources." |
| Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that, after "months of chaos" for passengers, he was in favour of Govia Thameslink losing its franchise. | Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that, after "months of chaos" for passengers, he was in favour of Govia Thameslink losing its franchise. |
| He tweeted: "City Hall will push for @TfL to take over more commuter routes so we can provide Londoners with a better service." | He tweeted: "City Hall will push for @TfL to take over more commuter routes so we can provide Londoners with a better service." |
| A spokesman for Govia Thameslink refused to comment on the reports about the possible loss of the franchises, instead choosing to re-release a statement in which it said it was "sorry for the disruption". | A spokesman for Govia Thameslink refused to comment on the reports about the possible loss of the franchises, instead choosing to re-release a statement in which it said it was "sorry for the disruption". |
| GTR had added it rescheduled every train in its franchise in an attempt to improve rail efficiency but it was a "hugely complicated task" and involved re-training drivers on new routes. | GTR had added it rescheduled every train in its franchise in an attempt to improve rail efficiency but it was a "hugely complicated task" and involved re-training drivers on new routes. |
| Mr Grayling had previously announced there would be compensation for commuters and an inquiry into what went wrong, saying there had been "major failures" by the rail industry. | Mr Grayling had previously announced there would be compensation for commuters and an inquiry into what went wrong, saying there had been "major failures" by the rail industry. |
| A Department for Transport spokesman added: "GTR passengers are encountering unacceptable service levels and the transport secretary and rail minister have been clear it is their priority that this is put right as soon as possible." | A Department for Transport spokesman added: "GTR passengers are encountering unacceptable service levels and the transport secretary and rail minister have been clear it is their priority that this is put right as soon as possible." |