Key information
Date: Wednesday 07th September 2016
Time: All day
Motion detail
“This Assembly notes that, in July, an emergency timetable was introduced by Govia Thameslink Railway, which resulted in 341 services being cut. This follows months of delays and cancellations to their services.
It is beyond doubt that Govia Thameslink Railway is failing to provide an adequate service, and it must now be considered to be in breach of its franchise agreement.
“This Assembly welcomes the fact that, in January 2016, the Department for Transport announced proposals that would see the transfer of rail services that operate mostly or wholly within the Greater London boundary to TfL when the current franchises are due for renewal.
“This decision followed the London Assembly Transport Committee’s report Devolving Rail Services to London: Towards a South London Metro, which recommended reform of London’s rail services.
“This Assembly further notes the Mayor’s manifesto commitment to “push for TfL to take over responsibility for more commuter routes”, and his recent offer to the Department for Transport to put a senior TfL team in charge of the Govia Thameslink Railway Southern franchise, which was subsequently rejected by the Rail Minister, Paul Maynard MP.
“This Assembly therefore calls on the Government to reconsider its decision not to strip Govia Thameslink Railway of its franchise, pass day-to-day management of the franchise to TfL, and urgently re-tender the franchise so that London metro services are passed permanently to TfL.”