MPs: Southern could lose franchise earlier than 2021 if service does not improve

Transport for London (TfL) has announced plans to take over all suburban rail routes in the capital over the next five years, in bid to replicate the success of the popular London Overground network.

FROM EARLIER: Transport for London announce takeover of London's suburban rail services

FROM EARLIER: East Croydon commuter train 'late 83 per cent of the time'

Jan 19: Southern told to 'shape up or ship out' in showdown with with MPs over rail franchise

Southern and Thameslink trains calling at East Croydon are scheduled to make the switch in 2021 - a move that has been welcomed as long overdue by MPs and commuters fed up with daily delays.

But Gavin Barwell, Conservative MP for Croydon Central, today suggested that Southern could be forced to give up its entire franchise even earlier if its poor performance continued.

He said: "If the service doesn't improve in short term...I think people are going to demand that. And not just in relation to the metro services.

"It's fair to say the blame is not all Southern's. There has been historic underinvestment in the railways, and problems with Network Rail. [But] there is huge anger amongst MPs in south London and Surrey about the service they're currently getting."

Paul Scully, Conservative MP for Sutton and Cheam, said: "They are on their final warning, they have heard from MPs and they would hear on a daily basis from people about their poor service, they have got to buck up their ideas.

“If there is another option in between that will give us some decent improvement and Southern haven’t changed their ways then we can look at tem losing their franchise.

“I will certainly be making that case if that is the situation.”

Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington, said: “This isn’t something that is going to happen overnight, in the meantime services continue to disappoint.

“The sooner we can replace them the better.”

Last week Southern was given three months to improve services or risk pressure for the Government to take over its routes.

Mr Barwell and Mr Scully were among a number of MPs who met with Southern bosses on Monday to grill them on the company's poor performance.

At the meeting the company committed to a number of improvement measures, including plans to employ more drivers and upgrade carriages to prevent breakdowns.

But Mr Barwell said: "They gave us a timetable for things that are going to happen - but it is all jam tomorrow.

"They did give us a number of very clear steps over the next 24 months that should lead to improvements. But it's got to happen."

Mr Scully said: "[The TfL announcement] is good news but it doesn’t mean there is going to be a sudden change, it still needs improvement and it’s going to take time."

One Southern-operated commuter train from East Croydon failed to run on time on more than 80 per cent of journeys between October and December last year, according to analysis carried out by Labour.

Southern is owned by Govia, which also owns Thameslink, another operator that has come under criticism for its levels of service.

Mr Barwell revealed that, at one point during Monday's meeting, a Department of Transport official admitted that the franchise awarded to Southern in 2014 had been "too big" for one operator to run successfully.

MPs present at the meeting were not aware of TfL's decision to take over suburban rail routes, Mr Barwell said.

Today's announcement comes just days after a report by the Centre for London think-tank called on the Mayor to "turn south London orange" and take over suburban rail routes to improve services for commuters.

Steve Reed, Labour MP for Croydon North, said: “It makes perfect sense for TfL to take over control of all London’s suburban railway lines. This is a decision that’s long overdue.

"Southern rail have been a complete disaster and long-suffering commuters will be delighted to finally see the back of them, I’m only disappointed this isn’t planned to happen until 2021."

Chris Philp, Conservative MP for Croydon South, said: "This is excellent news. I fully support this move for the Southern commuter lines to be put under the Mayor’s control by 2021. Southern have continually failed to provide a decent commuter service."

Since TfL took over inner London Silverlink rail routes in 2007 and re-branded them as the orange-liveried Overground, the network has seen a six-fold increase in passenger numbers and consistently high passenger satisfaction ratings.

What do you think about TfL taking over suburban rail routes? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6388 or email daniel.omahony@newsquest.co.uk