The Southern Rail franchise, serving commuter towns and the city of Brighton & Hove in the extreme south of England, has let down passengers repeatedly in recent months. At times this single franchise has accounted for the majority of train delays for our whole country. Thousands of people are arriving late to work which affects their livelihoods and our economy. Thousands more arrive home late in the evening which affects their family life and the health of our communities. 

In the face of such comprehensive failure, individual MPs in constituencies served by the Southern franchise feel unable to deliver a degree of pressure and influence that will deliver the tangible results our constituents need and deserve. In the past we have passed on the promises and assurances received from rail bosses and Government to our constituents in good faith only to have been left as disappointed as passengers by Southern’s failure to deliver. This is bad not only for Southern’s relationship with passengers, but is also damaging the trust between MPs and the residents they serve. 

Sir Nicholas and Peter, respective MPs for Mid Sussex and Hove, have committed to establish and joint-Chair an All-Party Group of MPs that will meet regularly with the sole purpose of scrutinising the operational effectiveness and implementation of Southern’s improvement plan. 

Both MPs met together with the CEO and COO of franchise operator, GTR, last week and discussed this proposal and they were assured full corporation and transparency with its operation. They therefore anticipate appearances of senior managers and operational staff before the Group at their regular meetings in order to enable full scrutiny of the franchise by MPs on behalf of the passengers they represent. 

The Rail Minister has also been informed, is fully supportive, and will similarly make herself available to the Group to enable its work. 

Sir Nicholas and Peter said; “Misery is being inflicted upon the people we were elected to serve for no other reason than them needing to get to the office on time, do a hard day’s work, and be home in time to enjoy an evening with their family. It is a grotesque way to run a modern rail service.

“The Southern rail service passes through political boundaries as well as geographical ones and so must our response if we are to represent people effectively. That’s why we are working together on this essential service in the hope of offering focussed, ongoing, and robust scrutiny of Southern’s operation and offer passengers the fierce advocacy they so desperately need”.

All MPs in the Southern commuter belt to the South of London will be invited to the inaugural meeting jointly chaired by Sir Nicholas and Peter at a date to be set for soon after the Referendum. Full terms, remit, and scope will be agreed at this time.

It is anticipated that the Group will register as an APPG and adopt some of the operational style of select committees by inviting witnesses, launching specific inquiries, and seeking to provide greater information and scrutiny to passengers and the public on an ongoing basis.