TfL boss Sir Peter Hendy apologises for calling Southeastern Rail 's**t' with 'Gestapo' staff

But the ticket inspector's union said it was wrong for Sir Peter to pick on a group of people who don’t work for him

Sir Peter Hendy has apologised for calling a national rail network "sh*t" (Elsa/Getty Images)

The boss of London’s transport network has apologised for a strongly-worded attack against the nation’s commuter trains, in which he labelled one network “sh*t” and “like the Wild West.”

Sir Peter Hendy, Transport for London’s (TfL) commissioner, said that passengers “hate the suburban rail service”, and likened staff to members of a secret police who “get on and fine everyone they can".

Acknowledging that Network Rail’s chief executive Mark Carne was "a nice bloke", Sir Peter said in an interview with Management Today that no-one was listening to his future plans because the organisation "can't fix London Bridge".

The station, which is undergoing refurbishments, has been hit by a recent spate of severe delays and performed badly on national passenger satisfaction surveys.

He continued: "On [the] Southeastern [train service] the trains are like the Wild West. They are sh*t, awful. And then every now and then some people who look like the Gestapo get on and fine everyone they can."

The TfL boss has now apologised to David Brown, chief executive of the Go-Ahead Group, and David Statham, managing director, and all their members of staff.

Sir Peter said his comments about Southeastern trains were “unjustified and excessive and I apologise.”

He added that he realised that everyone is doing their best “to offer a good service in the context of the franchise.”

“The interview was several weeks ago during the worst of the issues at London Bridge. But that's not an excuse. Passion is no excuse for insult. Sorry.”

But in a biting response, Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union which represents ticket inspectors, said it welcomed Sir Peter’s apology but accused Sir Peter of sometimes being “short-tempered and difficult”. Mr Cortes said it was neither wise nor sensible for Sir Peter to “pick on a group of people who don’t even work for him.”

Mr Cortes added that ticket inspectors “do a difficult enough job” without “crass comments” from Sir Peter which he said added to their “often stressful” working days.