Govia is embarking on a timetable shake-up to win back support from disgruntled passengers September 19, 2016 Govia Thameslink Railway is planning a timetable shake-up with the aim of providing new connections and faster journeys. Govia has been beset by problems recently due to a dispute with train guards on its Southern railway service, but is now trying to win back customer loyalty with its plans for new services. Read more: A (partial) defence of [...]
Mayor of London slammed over RMT union’s planned Tube strikes on Hammersmith & City and Circle Lines September 15, 2016 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been slammed today over his lack of response to a Tube strike planned by drivers on the Hammersmith & City and Circle Lines, due to start tonight. The RMT union said this morning that, following an "overwhelming vote for action" by drivers who are union members, 24 hours of strike [...]
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 [...]
Three at 3: The three stories you need to read right now September 5, 2016 It’s Monday afternoon – need we say say more? So why bother trawling the internet for something to read? We’ve done the legwork for you, and put together the top three stories of the day in bite-sized form, just to make your life that bit easier. Check out our three at three. More travel for [...]
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 [...]
Southern rail owner apologises to commuters as it reports 27 per cent profit growth September 2, 2016 Southern Rail stakeholder Go-Ahead Group has apologised to customers for a disrupted service as it reported a 27 per cent growth in pre-tax profits. The results came at the end of a summer filled with disruptions for users of Southern rail. Go-Ahead shares rocketed more than seven per cent on Friday morning. The figures Go-Ahead has reported [...]
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 [...]