Under-Fire Southern Rail Nominated For AWARD Despite Causing Months Of Passenger Misery

The owners of Southern Railway have been shortlisted for a community award, to the disbelief of unions and passengers alike.

Govia Thameslink Railway is in the running for three awards including a Passengers Matter accolade in a competition run by the Association of Community Rail.

However, Southern services have been disrupted for months thanks to staff shortages and industrial action in a long running dispute over the role of conductors.

Passengers are not happy [SWNS]

One in every twenty Southern trains (5%) were cancelled last year in what is the worst cancellation record of any train company in the past six years.

Rail, Maritime and Transport union general secretary Mick Cash said: “The only ‘hard work and community dedication’ going on at Southern Rail is from the frontline staff who are being attacked and undermined by the company bosses at every turn.

More unhappy commuters [SWNS]

Customers have protested the company’s failures [SWNS]

"They are the unsung heroes and heroines who have fought tirelessly to defend safety, services and access to rail for all against a torrent of smears and abuse from the GTR dirty tricks machine.

"The idea that the company top brass, who have systematically run the Southern Rail routes into the ground, could be considered for a Passengers Matter accolade is way beyond satire.

“These are the highly-paid mob responsible for axing guards, closing ticket offices and throwing the catering trolleys off the trains.”

The awards, being announced later this month, celebrate community projects.