CAROLINE Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, has tabled an Early Day Motion (1) today (June 17) to protect rail services and jobs from the Government-backed French and German takeover of the new ‘super franchise’.
Protests have taken place this morning at Brighton train station, and across the South-East, opposing threats to staffing and services along the new Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise. Baroness Jenny Jones, the Green peer, attended a demonstration at Victoria station.
The move could lead to driver-only operated trains, the axing of guards, fewer staff at stations and loss of train maintenance staff.
Lucas said:
“The new franchise threatens the livelihoods of skilled local railway workers and our services. I absolutely support today’s protests and call on the Government to review this new super franchise as a matter of urgency to ensure the protection of jobs, services and passenger safety.
“Our once thriving railways, now privatized and fragmented, are today characterised by poor services and some of the most expensive fares in Europe. They’re ripping off passengers, harming the economy and failing the environment.
"If the Government really wants to make savings and improve our transport network for all, it should accept that privatisation has clearly failed and gradually return the railways into public ownership. A publicly-owned railway system will provide quality services, fair prices and protect our jobs: a railway service we can again be rightly proud of.”
Baroness Jones said:
“This new franchise is another example of the Coalition’s cost cutting at the expense of customer safety and comfort.”
Full text of Lucas’ EDM:
“That this House is dismayed that the new Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise will deliver profits to the French and German governments whilst resulting in the loss of hundreds of essential railway jobs and a worse, less safe service for passengers, particularly for older, disabled and women passengers; notes the franchise has been won by French-owned Keolis with contractual requirements and incentives to sack guards, introduce driver-only operation and reduce station staff and ticket offices and is appalled that passenger service and safety is being jeopardised in this way; further notes that the rolling stock for the franchise will be provided and maintained by German multinational Siemens, who has refused to take on the existing train maintenance thereby threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of skilled railway workers; and calls on the Government urgently to review this franchise, ensure that these cuts do not take pla ce and that rail passenger services and jobs are protected.”