Don’t make Southern Rail a scapegoat for the ideological war between Whitehall and the trade unions September 8, 2016 Southern Rail is raking in tens of millions of pounds in profit from its disastrous management of a crucial commuter line while careering head first into a row with unions and nabbing a £20m taxpayer bailout due to the ensuing problems – at least if you believe the company’s critics. The reality of the situation [...]
Southern Rail plan to run 60 per cent of services during the RMT strike September 5, 2016 Southern Rail plans to run six out of every 10 trains normally timetabled during the 48-hour strike by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union that commences in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The franchise said that it would use "contingency conductors", adding that there would be extra staff at stations to help passengers and "arrangements [...]
Power to the people: commuters club together to raise funds for judicial review into Southern Rail network September 5, 2016 Frustrated commuters have clubbed together to fund a judicial review into the Department for Transport’s (DfT) handling of the chaotic Southern Rail franchise. The Association of British Commuters announced this morning that it would be teaming up with lawyers to launch the process and urged angry commuters to contribute by submitting their tales of woe. Read more: [...]
Southern Rail strikes are going ahead despite both sides wanting to talk September 4, 2016 A 48-hour strike by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union on the Southern Rail network will go ahead on 7 September despite both sides saying that they are available to hold talks to avert industrial action. The walk-out, the latest in the long-running dispute over the role of guards on the troubled network will [...]
“Shameful” Southern rail owner set for best one-day stock market performance since 2009 September 2, 2016 Southern Rail owner Go-Ahead Group is set for its best one-day performance on the stock market since 2009. Go-Ahead was slammed as "shameful" as it reported a 27 per cent growth in statutory pre-tax profits this morning. But investors are flocking to the company, with shares currently up more than nine per cent to 2,184p. If the nine [...]
The Govia Thameslink strike set for 7 September has been called off September 1, 2016 It looks like a 24-hour strike by Southern railway workers next Wednesday in a row over ticket office closures will not be going ahead. Rail union RMT confirmed today that it has suspended strike action involving Southern operator Govia Thameslink's station staff, scheduled for 7 September, after "significant progress" was made in talks held at ACAS yesterday. The union [...]
Department of Transport £20m Southern Rail investment criticised by Umunna and RMT September 1, 2016 A package of measures unveiled this morning to improve the performance of Britain’s worst performing rail network was blasted by both Labour politicians and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union. Transport secretary Chris Grayling announced a £20m investment to improve performance on the Southern Rail network. Read more: Department for Transport offers up £20m to [...]
Department for Transport unveils £20m plan to get Southern back on track September 1, 2016 Transport secretary Chris Grayling has unveiled a package of measures aimed at improving the performance of the Southern rail network and restoring passenger confidence. The new measures include a £20m fund and the appointment of one of Britain’s most experienced rail industry figures, Chris Gibb, to help get the service back "running as it should". London [...]
Govia and Abellio go head-to-head to deliver “better journeys” between London and Birmingham August 30, 2016 The owner of Southern Rail has made it onto the list of the final two bidders vying to run the London Midland franchise. Govia currently runs the network and will go head-to-head with Abellio, who recently won a nine-year contract to run the East Anglia franchise, one of the busiest commuter networks into London. Central [...]
Southern Rail restores 119 of the 341 services cancelled in July August 30, 2016 After promising that customers will be automatically refunded for delays on the network, Southern Rail announced that it would also be reinstating 119 services. Read more: Southern rail to fork out hefty passenger payouts amid major disruption Southern cancelled 341 services on 11 July in an attempt to provide a more realistic service following unprecedented [...]