Govia Thameslink could be stripped of franchise due to sustained disruption

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling is understood to have given rail operator two weeks to improve, otherwise government will take control

Passengers protesting poor services at London Victoria station (Getty)

The crisis-ridden rail operator Govia Thameslink could be stripped of its franchise to run commuter trains in southern England if the service does not rapidly improve.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling is understood to have given the parent company of the Thameslink and Great Northern routes two weeks to make changes otherwise the government will take control.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) pledged to publish an interim timetable on July 15 but many of the hundreds of thousands of passengers who have suffered weeks of severe disruption after new timetables were introduced in May have already lost confidence in the operator.

Commuters are, however, set to receive compensation equal to a month’s worth of travel.

A source close to Mr Grayling told The Telegraph that he had “got a process ready that he can kick into action that will result in them losing the franchise”.

The franchise would then be run by a state-controlled “operator of last resort” company staffed by civil servants.

An estimated 230,000 passengers use Thameslink and Great Northern – which run from Bedford through London to Brighton, and Peterborough to Kings Cross station in London – every working day.

The implementation of a new timetable had been expected to cause delays but chaos soon ensued, with cancelled trains and long delays at train stations becoming routine.

GTR’s response further angered customers. Additional security staff were posted at stations on GTR routes to protect staff from unhappy commuters, while the rail operator appeared to blame a sole taxi company for disruption across four separate routes.

Charles Horton, GTR chief executive, resigned in recognition of the company’s “very challenging times” and Mr Grayling has faced calls to step down, as MPs from across the House of Commons expressed their concern at the prolonged inability of their constituents to arrive at work on time.

A spokesman for Govia Thameslink reportedly refused to comment on the reports about the possible loss of the franchises and instead chose to re-release a statement that apologised for the disruption.