Daily Mirror

Largest rail franchise is UK’s worst

- BY MARK ELLIS Transport Correspond­ent

THE biggest rail franchise has been officially named the UK’s worst service over the last three years.

The National Audit Office branded Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern poor value for passengers, with 900,000 travellers a day suffering the worst disruption on the network.

Since Govia Thameslink began the full franchise in July 2015, around 146,000 services (7.7%) have been axed or delayed more than 30 minutes, compared to a 2.8% network average.

Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald insisted: “Our railway desperatel­y needs public ownership.”

Govia boss Charles Horton said: “We regret the disruption.”

 ??  ?? PLEA Andy McDonald
PLEA Andy McDonald

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