One issue I am continuing to work alongside other MPs on to pursue is the sub-standard Southern and Thameslink train service, operated by Govia Thameslink Railway.
The Government recently announced a new project board and £20 million of funding to help Network Rail’s upkeep of the infrastructure. This includes £1 million on testing platform and dispatch staff infrastructure at Gatwick Airport and East Croydon stations.
Accountability is vital and I recently led a House of Commons debate on local train services where I asked the Rail Minister to elaborate further on these plans; I will continue to press the Minister on this point and I look forward to meeting with the head of the project board in the near future.
As I write, the RMT union have announced further Southern Railway strikes to take place on 14 days over five separate periods from 11th October to 8th December.
I hope that by the time this magazine goes to print, they would have done the sensible thing and called the strikes off. I never hesitate to criticise GTR when necessary, however it is wrong for the RMT union, in full knowledge of the issues and significant problems affecting commuters in Crawley, London and southern counties, to see this as an opportunity for industrial action.
Going forward, GTR have launched a public consultation on proposed changes to their timetable in 2018. For information and to take part please visit: www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/timetable-consultation
If you would like a hard copy of the consultation document, please write to: GTR Timetable Consultation, c/o East Side Offices, London Kings Cross Station N1C 4AP.
Henry Smith MP
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
01293 934554/020 7219 7043
henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk
www.henrysmith.info