Latest message from Sir Nicholas to constituents and from the Secretary of State for Transport and the Chief Executive of GTR.

Dear Constituent,

I hardly dare wish you a happy New Year and I pray earnestly that we are going to see a resolution to these contemptible strikes which are causing you, your colleagues, your families and your friends such grotesque and appalling disruption to your lives and work.

In response to the many who have emailed me since the beginning of the new year, I particularly wish to emphasise that I have had several contacts with the Secretary of State and with the Operator, and I have to say that the outlook remains gloomy and deeply frustrating particularly so, of course, for the passengers, but also for all those, and there are many, who are desperately seeking a way forward with the Unions.

To this end I attach a letter that I received this morning from Chris Grayling MP, Secretary of State for Transport, which sets out very clearly the situation as it is, the actions that are being taken and a general update.

I also attach a communication from Charles Horton, Chief Executive Officer of GTR and a copy of a report published today by HM Chief Inspector of Railways on ‘GTR – Southern Railways – Driver Only Operation (DOO)’.

The responses to my emails to all those who have been in touch with me varies from the pleased to people who do not wish to hear any more about it.

You may be reassured that constructive suggestions will be relayed to the Department for Transport.

If you are one of those please let me know and we will remove your name from the mailing list so you will not receive information which is intended to be helpful such as these updates.

Members of Parliament will be meeting the Secretary of State very shortly when the House returns on Monday and it is likely that we will ask to see the Prime Minister again who remains, I assure you, actively engaged and deeply concerned about what is happening.

With my personal best wishes and my profound apologies for the way in which your life is being mucked around so completely needlessly and wholly unacceptably.

Yours sincerely,

ATTACHMENTS:

Report from the HM Chief Inspector of Railways: GTR – Southern Railways – Driver Only Operation (DOO)

Letter from Chris Grayling MP, Secretary of State for Transport

Letter from Charles Horton, Chief Executive Officer of GTR