06.09.18
Go-Ahead blames timetable fiasco on ‘industry failure’ as firm set to pay out millions
The operator of Southern and Thameslink has revealed it expects to pay out “millions” in compensation to passengers affected by its May timetable chaos.
The Go-Ahead Group said it is contacting tens of thousands of affected customers in regards to compensation. The company claims that it has contacted 30,000 customers since the beginning of last week alone.
Despite the high pay-outs, profit before tax for the transport provider rose by 6.5% to £145.7m in the year to June 30. However, the company may yet still face a penalty from the DfT following the timetable disruption for reportedly breaching its contractual targets.
David Brown, Go-Ahead’s chief executive, told the Press Association that he blamed a “systemic industry failure” for the disastrous timetable chaos, adding that he would challenge any penalties from the DfT because they allegedly only received timetable changes from Network Rail weeks before their implementation.
The firm’s Thameslink and Great Northern services saw eight weeks of chaos and were two of the worst affected by the timetable disruption.
Its Southeastern franchise contract expires in March and has been put out to tender, however it is still on the shortlist of bidders.
A report from the ORR into the timetable chaos is due to be published on 20 September.
Top image: wcjohnston
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