The failure of the DfT to lawfully monitor the Southern Rail franchise has resulted in the collapse of the network, and an ongoing, catastrophic effect on the lives of commuters across the South. It is absolutely staggering that the Secretary of State can allow this situation to continue and this can only mean one of two things: either he is aware of the problems commuters are facing and chooses to do nothing; or, he is not aware and has failed to adequately inform himself of the devastating impact on commuters’ lives. Either way, we believe this behaviour is unlawful and an outright betrayal of the public’s right to transparency, safety and equality of access.
We continue to hear stories on a daily basis from commuters who have lost their jobs or been forced to move out of the area, so extreme are the conditions for rail users. More worrying still are the terrible health and safety risks on the network, of which we have written to the DfT and received no response. The situation could not be more urgent – our rail infrastructure is at the point of collapse and we dread to think how long it will take to put it back together again. The Secretary of State must act now, with full transparency and acknowledging the urgency of the catastrophe that he has allowed to develop.
Most serious of all is the effect the Southern Rail crisis is having on the lives of disabled commuters. The Secretary of State is obliged to comply with the 2010 Equality Act and ensure adequate rail travel for disabled passengers, and he is breaking this obligation. It is totally unacceptable, immoral and unlawful that disabled passengers should have to book their travel as long as 48 hours ahead and, even then, be unsure of assistance.
The Select Committee for Transport is very clear on the point that the DfT has not conducted an adequate impact assessment of the effects on DOO on the disabled. We cannot accept a future where this becomes the norm, with unstaffed DOO trains arriving at unstaffed rural stations and effectively ending reasonable rail travel for these passengers across the South.
We call on the DfT to provide full and complete disclosure of the franchise agreement and remedial plan; and to cease its tactic of providing incomplete information to both the ABC and the Transport Select Committee. It is vital that the needs of commuters, especially the elderly and disabled, are put first by the Department for Transport; and that they stop ignoring the human impact of the rail crisis.
How you can help:
We have announced our legal grounds to all MPs across the South and ask for their urgent help in advocating for transparency from the DfT. Please help us by writing to your MP and asking that they join us in demanding the full and urgent disclosure of Govia’s franchise documents and remedial plan.
abcommuters.com 