Sussex politicians '˜will no longer accept current level of rail service' - Lewes MP

Maria Caulfield joined other MPs at a meeting with Network Rail, rail minister Claire Perry, and Govia Thameslink Railway - which runs both Thameslink and Southern - at Westminster today (Monday January 18) to discuss the constant disruption and delays to services since the start of December.

The event came on the same day that passengers faced lengthy delays due to separate signalling problems, one at Balcombe, and another between Preston Park and Hassocks.

Mrs Caulfield said: “A number of us demanded that the fines now be imposed on both the operator and Network Rail, dividends cease with immediate effect and for the franchise to be re looked at. Coming back in six months to just talk about the problems is unacceptable.”

At the meeting, the issue of the continuing unreliability of the service was the top subject raised, as well as the problems of driver shortages, substandard infrastructure and poor rolling stock.

Mrs Caulfield added: “Too often Network Rail appears too slow to repair faults and carry out programmed maintenance.”

She continued: “Constituents are very unhappy with the level of service being provided and as a group of SE MPs we will no longer accept this level of service. We await the minister’s response to our requests”

Meanwhile after the meeting Nus Ghani, Wealden MP, said: “I don’t know how many times I have met with officials at Southern both since and before my election as an MP, but at each and every one of those meetings I have heard the same old promises and plans for improvement.

“It’s no better when I meet with Network Rail either. Every time we meet, the horizon for improvements is pushed back by six months, to 12 months, then to 18 months.

“But 2016 has begun as 2015 finished, with performance statistics at appallingly low levels and my constituents having to put up with unsatisfactory service which shows no signs of improvement.

“The Government must set clear targets, on management performance, communication with passengers, planning in advance of disruption, procedures for giving compensation for disruption and plans for investment.

“If those targets are not met, there will be some very strong arguments in favour of finding an alternative holder of the franchise.”

Rail minister Claire Perry added: “It’s inexcusable that customers on this part of the rail network aren’t receiving the service they deserve. There are problems that are being fixed, such as driver shortages and old trains. But the operator and Network Rail have still got to do better when it comes to fixing faults and communicating with their passengers. We are all completely committed to getting this railway back to high performance by 2018.”

Last week, Ms Ghani wrote for a second time to the chair of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, urging the committee to conduct its own inquiry into Southern’s performance.