Following the announcement by Southern Rail that they will be introducing a temporary timetable to services from Monday 11th July, I have today written to the CEO of Govia Thameslink who are responsible for the operation of Southern Rail.
Here's my letter:
Charles Horton
Chief Executive Officer
Govia Thameslink Railway Limited
Hertford House
1 Cranwood Street
London
EC1V 9QS
Friday 8th July 2016
By email and post to: [email protected]
Dear Charles,
Re: Southern timetable changes
I write following Southern Rail’s announcement of a temporary timetable starting on Monday 11 July which will affect routes serving my constituency.
On Monday, constituents using East Dulwich, Peckham Rye and Queens Road Peckham stations, will only have 3 Southern rail services to London Bridge between 6am & 9am and only 3 services between 5pm & 7pm from London Bridge to Queens Road Peckham, Peckham Rye & East Dulwich.
This dramatic and sudden loss of service is simply unacceptable.
Since the announcement I have been contacted by a number of constituents who are deeply worried about the disruption and the impact that these changes will have on:
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Their working & family lives
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Their childcare provision & arrangements
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Their finances
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Safety & overcrowding fears
My constituents depend on these overland services. They cannot rely on other ways of travelling. The buses are slow because roads are heavily congested and there is no tube. They deserve a rail service they can rely on.
They already continue to suffer from Southern Rail’s ongoing disruptive, poor and unpredictable service and the introduction of this ‘temporary timetable’ on Monday is the final straw.
Because of Southern Rail’s continuing failure to provide a reliable service I will now be urging the Government to strip Govia Thameslink Railway of its franchises in advance of its renewal date, with an accelerated transfer of Greater London services to Transport for London.
Yours sincerely
Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP