Andrew Dismore

Dear editor,

Your report of the continuing anger of commuters over the rotten Thameslink service hardly qualifies as news, the story  having been repeated so often, especially since Govia took over the contract last year.

The Government have now said that Thameslink will be transferred to Transport for London – but not until 6 years time.

It is outrageous that hard pressed commuters who use the Thameslink service will have to wait so long  before the line is taken over by TfL. Thameslink is the most unpopular railway line in the whole country.

I have been calling for such action  for a number of years now, as the service has gone from bad to worse. A survey of residents I conducted last year showed overwhelming support for the plan.

There was a golden opportunity to move Thameslink to TfL last year, when the franchise came up for renewal, but the franchise was awarded to Govia- TfL was not even allowed to bid. If the Conservatives had listened to us then, Thameslink commuters would not have to wait so long for the improvements  that we know TfL can deliver, as they have before.

There must be a strong case to cancel  the franchise due to such poor performance and I am pleased that Labour’s London Mayoral Candidate, Sadiq Khan, has said that if he wins on 5^th May, he will  press the Government urgently to transfer responsibility for Thameslink services to TfL.

yours sincerely,

Andrew Dismore

Labour London Assembly Member and candidate for Barnet and Camden