Southeastern rail services are 'appalling' for passengers

There is no avoiding the fact that Southeastern rail services have been appalling.  Their performance figures make them one of the worst rail franchises in the country, but since Christmas the service has deteriorated to the point where long-suffering customers are up in arms. 

On one occasion I witnessed passengers on a Bexleyheath line service blocking the doors in protest after they had just been told by the driver that the train was diverting at Lewisham to the Sidcup line. They were at the end of their tether and just wanted to express their frustration.

Staff are under enormous pressure and information is hard to come by when trains are cancelled or delayed. I approached a group of staff at Lewisham station during the week-long disruption caused by a recent landslide to ask whether the replacement bus was expected soon.  To say that they were beleaguered and as a result tetchy would be putting it mildly.  They had no idea when the service would arrive and when I asked where I should wait I got a vague wave of an arm as they all walked away.

Southeast London relies heavily on its rail services. Other than North Greenwich station communities in this part of London do not have direct access to the Underground. Our only alternative for long commutes is Southeastern’s Metro train services. 

For too long people in southeast London have suffered with one of the worst performing rail franchises, under investment in rolling stock and total indifference from TfL to the lack of alternative options. 

Change is needed.  One genuine problem that Southeastern face is a shortage of rolling stock.  When the new carriages arrive for Thameslink then their existing stock must be offered to Southeastern.  I have been campaigning about 12 car trains on our network for 15 years and now there is a chance we will get them, but we need the government to act.

Now we are being asked to welcome the prospect of TfL taking over the franchise for Southeastern’s Metro lines between Dartford and London. But TfL’s neglect in this part of London over many years and their dismissal of anything that requires investment to match that of other parts of London does not fill me with confidence that they will do any better.

Over 70 percent of the delays and cancellations since Christmas are due to Network Rail. Frankly passengers do not care, they just want the service they are told to expect when they purchase their tickets.  In a recent answer to a question about Southeastern’s performance the Transport Minister Claire Perry said, “they are not at the top of the list for overall satisfaction” in fact they were second from bottom and it is this glossing over the poor performance that lets the operators off the hook.

We need the Government to hold the franchises to account. If Southeastern now know they have lost the franchise and are not interested in providing a decent service, then the franchise should be removed immediately. 

Clive Efford is the Labour MP for Eltham & Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport