Report Finds TSGN 'Not Value For Money'

Government auditor finds Govia Thameslink Railway has failed to deliver for passengers.

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THE design of the Thameslink Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise has resulted in a negative impact on service quality and a failure to deliver value for money for rail users. These are the conclusions of an investigation by the National Audit Office.

The NAO also identified that the specified timetable was not seen as workable by Network Rail and this continues to be the situation as implementation of the intended higher frequency train service has been pushed back from May 2018 to December 2019.

At the time the Invitation to Tender was issued in September 2013, a timetable specification was issued even though it had not been agreed with NR and, when the five bids received were analysed, a number were considered to be completely unworkable. The successful Govia Thameslink Railway bid was not placed in that category, but was judged to be non-compliant with timetable planning rules and the need for possessions to undertake infrastructure maintenance.

Timetable planning rules exist so that operational performance can meet the target Public Performance Measure and cover such things as rolling stock characteristics that meet section pathing times, headways at junctions, and a minimum turnround time at destinations. The GTR issues were not to do with the 24 trains per hour that will use the core central Thameslink section through Blackfriars, but with the potential for disruption elsewhere.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT