Thameslink chaos to last until end of year as ‘200 trains a day are scrapped’

Disruption on Govia Thameslink and Great Northern rail is set to continue to the end of the year, it was revealed today — amid claims that some 200 services a day are still being cancelled.

It came as Govia launched the third timetable in two months on its network, which carries 230,000 passengers to and from London, in an effort to get the trains to run on time.

But commuters were warned there may still be changes — and they should use the new timetable “as a guide”.

Govia said it was concentrating on improving morning and evening peak services while cutting off-peak trains. Today it apologised “sincerely and unreservedly” to passengers, saying it had “failed to launch new services as planned” resulting in “significant delays, cancellations and disruption”.

It confirmed the third “interim” timetable will last until December when the next round of timetable changes are set to come into force across the UK.

The Government has already ordered rail chiefs to “rein back” on significant December changes following the chaos resulting from the national timetable changes in May — many lines operated by other companies will remain as they are now, without change next year. Driver training — the lack of which led to the timetable chaos which began in May — continues.

Transport union boss Manuel Cortes said his reps had reported 200 trains a day being cancelled as a result of the third timetable. Mr Cortes, general secretary of the Transport and Salaried Staffs’ Association, added: “Passengers who have been suffering the effects of chronic bad management must have thought delays and cancellations can’t get any worse. They need to brace themselves. They ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Commuters at Blackfriars today said they had no trust in the latest timetable after “too many empty promises”.

National Gallery worker Nicola Smith, 28, has had to take earlier morning trains from St Albans and is not getting home until 7pm. She said: “I pay £3,500 a year, for what? My shift is seven hours but my day’s become incredibly long because of the rail nightmare.

“We have been promised it will get better but it hasn’t. There are fewer trains. I will believe it when I see it if it improves. Too many empty promises.”

Daniel Harrison, 21, who works in PR, said: “I am new in my job and sometimes work late. On occasion it’s been impossible to get home. The railcard is expensive and the service not acceptable.”

Royal Mail worker Michael Rickard, 48, said: “I have been commuting for 20 years and this is the worst it has been. I come in from Hatfield and even today with the new timetable the train I wanted to catch was cut out. I know people whose mental health has been affected by this.”

Govia blames Network Rail for the late arrival of the May timetable, saying it did not provide enough time to train drivers on unfamiliar routes. Govia said: “We have enough drivers. The significant delay in NR agreeing the [May] timetable has impaired our ability to rework train schedules, work locations and some new route training.

“Once the interim timetable has bedded in we will look to introduce more services to complete the intended May 2018 timetable.” The company will concentrate on peak services. “More off-peak services have been removed from the interim timetable,” it said. Charles Horton, Govia chief executive, resigned two weeks ago over the situation.