AN IN-DEPTH report by the National Audit Office (NAO) into the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) rail franchise has revealed it has not delivered value for money as a result of high levels of passenger disruption.
The report also concludes that between September 2014 and September 2017 passengers using the franchise have experienced the worst service performance on the national rail network, with around 146,000 services (7.7% of those planned) having either been cancelled or been delayed by more than 30 minutes compared to 2.8% on the rest of the network.
Around 56,000 cancellations (38% of the total) were related to the availability of drivers and other train crew, a figure based on data produced by Network Rail and Govia Thameslink (GTR) in respect of services cancelled.
Other key causes of delays and cancellations (37%) include the reliability of some train fleets, Network Rail’s management of the rail network, and failures of track and other infrastructure.
The net result is passengers have been badly let down by the DfT’s franchising process, having created a large and difficult-to-manage operation.
The NAO says while the DfT accepted Govia Thameslink’s ‘driver-only operation’plan the department did not fully evaluate the possible effects on passengers of different scenarios relating to industrial action before awarding the contract, nor did it ask Govia Thameslink to do so.
In addition, the DfT did not seek sufficient assurance Govia Thameslink would have enough train drivers when it took on the franchise.
This story is from the February 2018 edition of The Railway Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2018 edition of The Railway Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Ro-railers Ahead Of Their Time Or Overtaken By Events?
A new type of vehicle for use on both road and rail was trialled in the early 1930s, but never caught on. Alan Dale considers whether early road-rail vehicles were too advanced for their time.
From Upminster To Upcycled: Vivarail's D-train
Ben Jones visits Long Marston to find out how redundant District Line trains are being rebuilt to provide cheaper and greener alternatives to brand new multiple units – and how Vivarail is looking to the future with new methods of propulsion.
Fatal Fracture
In the fourth of our series looking back at major railway accidents, Fraser Pithie recalls what was a terrible accident in terms of loss of life – an event that took place 50 years ago, in 1967. Much was learnt from the tragic and profound events that arose from a fateful Bonfire Night at Hither Green, London on what was then British Rail’s Southern Region.
ECML Power Supply Upgrade Complete
THE first phase of Network Rail’s programme to upgrade 25kV AC power supplies on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) is on track for completion in time for the introduction of new train fleets in 2018.
Tyseley Launches £3million Share Offer For New TOC
FROM the moment Tyseley unveiled its newly overhauled flagship locomotive No. 7029 Clun Castle at the end of October, fans of the Collett 4-6-0 began to ask when the famous BR(W) ‘Castle’will double-head with sister No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe on the main line.
Bredgar's Little Gem
Gareth Evans visits the Bredgar & Wormshill Railway to discover the latest developments at the 2ft-gauge line in Kent, run by a group of friends, and open once a month to the public.
South Yorkshire Tram-Train Project 400% Over Budget
South Yorkshire Tram-Train Project 400% Over Budget
Rebirth Of The Corris Railway
In the latest instalment of our periodic Lazarus Lines features Cliff Thomas describes the resurrection the Corris Railway, previously owned by the GWR and Nationalised in 1948.
Tornado Hits Cornwall
In a P&P extra, Keith Farr rides behind ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado on an epic journey from London to Cornwall – the first visit of the class to the Duchy.
Steam & Heritage
Thousands at Mid-Hants for gala marking 50 years since Southern steam bowed out
