Andrew Dismore

Andrew Dismore, Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden today condemned the 1.9% Thameslink fare increase as an ‘unjustifiable  kick in the teeth for hard pressed commuters’, which he contrasted with the ‘Mayor’s TfL  fares freeze, a New year bonus for bus and tube users’.

Mr Dismore said:

‘Thameslink under Govia has gone from bad to worse. When they took over the franchise, we were told that the service would improve, but the exact opposite has happened.

‘There are not enough drivers and rolling stock is not well maintained. Non stopping trains  are prioritised  over local commuter services when Govia have cancellations for  their frequent  operational problems.

‘At the stations there are complaints of an insufficient number of ticket barriers causing crushing queues, poor lighting and inadequate sign posting of train platforms  and messaging.

‘Despite all these problems, the Conservative Government and Govia think  it is right to increase fares for an ever worsening service.

‘What makes it even worse, is that the popular and all party supported plan at City Hall  to transfer Thameslink  to TfL control has now been cancelled by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, who previously wrote that he  didn’t want  to see the line come under a Labour Mayor. He has put his party politics ahead of a fair deal for commuters, who he is now charging ever more for even less.

The Government should have matched Sadiq Khan’s TfL run services fares freeze  and frozen Thameslink fares too; and they should honour the pre London election commitment to transfer the line to TfL.’