23.06.17
Gibb criticises unions as primary cause for Southern woes
Unions RMT and Aslef have been described as the “primary cause” for Southern’s problems over the past year, as the much-anticipated Gibb report was finally published by the DfT.
Last year, Network Rail non-executive director Chris Gibb was asked to draw up an independent review into Southern’s Govia Thameslink Railway franchise to find out its primary problems and raise potential solutions.
And Gibb’s report, released yesterday, sharply criticised the actions of unions RMT and Aslef for causing disruption and difficulty for the franchise.
It also comes as the RMT announced more strikes on Southern in July, as well as fellow operators Northern and Merseyrail.
“The RMT and Aslef leadership, supported currently by their members, the railway people in conductor and driver grades, are the primary cause for the system integrity to fail,” Gibb’s report states.
“By taking strike action in their dispute over driver only operation (DOO), declining to work overtime and generally not supporting and undermining the system integrity.”
Gibb added that this was reducing services for passengers, and meaning that the operator had no room for error when it was understaffed due to strikes. He stated that industrial action was undermining the system and its value to the country that funds it through fares and taxes.
He called on union leaders for a change of direction in changing the system through engagement with operators and ensuring the safe dispatch and operation of trains – including the roll-out of DOO.
But Gibb did point to other issues in the system that were causing problems for Southern.
“On Southern all the elements of the system have been under strain: unreliable infrastructure, a timetable that is very tight and with overcrowded peak services, some key stations that are overcrowded, depots that are full and for historic reasons are in the wrong place, and people that are involved in informal and formal industrial action,” the report continued.
“The system cannot possibly work to passengers’ satisfaction with these components in this state.”
But in its response, the RMT showed no sign of letting up its pressure on Southern, or acknowledging the criticism from Gibb, as general secretary Mick Cash called the report a ‘fit up’ by the government.
“This is a classic case of he who pays the piper calls the tune. It’s a shame Mr Gibb never bothered to talk to the unions and the staff and has allowed himself to be used by the government as a human shield over the Southern Rail fiasco,” he said.
Grayling: report is in line with DfT ambitions
Commenting on the report, transport secretary Chris Grayling said that the government were already acting on many of the recommendations in the review, such as putting aside £300m for Network Rail to improve rail infrastructure and resilience along the Southern and Thameslink rail networks.
“I’m pleased that since the new year, passengers have seen the benefits of performance improvements on Southern,” Grayling said. “A 23 percentage point increase in performance on Southern this year is significant, and it is delivering passengers the reliable, efficient rail service they deserve.”
He also stated that the report was in line with the direction that the department wanted to take the industry in as rail travel increases.
“Passenger journeys on Southern’s major routes into London have doubled in the last 12 years,” he pointed out. “I wish to say directly to those passengers – while I am pleased performance is improving – I understand that last year you were let down by train services that simply were not good enough. We took steps to improve compensation, but ultimately we need services that meet your expectations - for reliability, safety, comfort, cleanliness, and value for money - and I am determined to take the necessary steps to deliver needed improvements.”
And Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), also said that Southern and Network Rail had already been working together to fix infrastructure on the franchise.
“As Chris Gibb’s thorough and considered report highlights, there is much more work to do and it is vital that the unions play their part and bring industrial action to a halt,” he said. “We want to make his recommendations work, one railway ensuring that we meet our customers' needs and expectations and make the sustained improvements that everyone wants to see.”
Transport watchdog calls for simplification of fare structures
Lianna Etkind, public transport campaigner at the Campaign for Better Transport, who have also been vocal in its criticism of Southern, said that the report should be used by the government, Southern and other rail operators to improve passenger experiences across the UK’s rail network.
“After months of delay, the Gibb report has important lessons for the government, and implications not just for Southern passengers, but for other franchises too,” she said. “Notably, there's a concerning suggestion that the government may have encouraged a bid with the fewest drivers. More needs to be done to ensure that supply of drivers meets the demand.”
Etkind added that Gibb was right to criticise the “absurdly complicated” fares structures, something that should be targeted across Southern and many other franchises.
“The task before the government now is to get Southern performance back on track as soon as possible and to ensure that all future franchises do much, much more to incentivise quality and passengers' experience,” she concluded.