Govia Thameslink ‘could lose franchise’ over rail chaos

Rail operator Govia Thameslink faces being stripped of its franchises unless performance on its services in the South East of England rapidly improves.

A source said the government could begin the process within weeks.

Passengers on its Thameslink and Great Northern trains have endured more than a month of disruption following the introduction of new timetables in May.

Meanwhile, the firm said it is working on plans to compensate passengers.

"The industry is working together on this and an announcement will be made in due course," said a spokesman for Govia Thames- link Railway.

Commuters are set to receive compensation worth a month's travel.

GTR – which also runs Southern and the Gatwick Express services - changed the time of every train on its timetable on 20 May.

Passengers were warned of disruption before the changes were brought in, but the implementation of the new timetable saw some services withdrawn and further cancellations without any warning.

Since then, GTR chief executive Charles Horton has resigned and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has faced calls to stand down – as MPs from across all parties voiced their concern at the disruption caused in their constituencies.

Passengers have expressed their anger on social media, while last week a memo leaked by the RMT union revealed that extra security staff were at stations to protect staff from "unhappy customers".

But there is also frustration within government that while Northern, which encountered similar problems in the North of England, has introduced an interim timetable, Govia Thameslink's equivalent is still a fortnight away.

"They are now in the last chance saloon," a government source said..