Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, commenting on the Government’s £20 million fund and new review board to improve Southern rail services, said:

“While this support is obviously welcome it is becoming increasingly clear that the franchise is failing. Passengers are enduring the worst delays in the country, fares are up 25 per cent and it is not clear how this investment will tackle the underlining failing on the network.

“As we have seen with the Southern Rail debacle, Ministers are clinging to a failed model for purely ideological reasons – and commuters are being made to pay the price.

“This is why Labour is committed to bringing rail franchises back under public ownership as they expire.”

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