A commuter group has launched a high court challenge over the Department for Transport's handling of the beleaguered Southern rail franchise.
The Association of British Commuters (ABC) announced on Wednesday (1 February) that it had applied for a judicial review of what it called the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ongoing failure to hold Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to account for the long-term breakdown of service on Southern.
Transport secretary Chris Grayling
It alleges that transport secretary Chris Grayling has acted unlawfully ‘by failing to determine and announce within a reasonable time whether GTR is in breach of its franchise obligations’ and failed to comply with his duties under the Equality Act 2010 by causing indirect discrimination to passengers with disabilities.
Last week, Transport Select Committee chair Louise Ellman warned ministers not to ‘duck’ the issue of GTR’s breaches of its franchise targets.
The committee has also raised concerns about access to the rail network for disabled travellers under Southern’s changes to the role of conductors (guards) under driver only operation.
A spokesperson for the ABC said: ‘We began this process back in September, at a time when we felt we’d already reached our last resort. That it has got so much worse, and the DfT have still not acted, now beggars belief.’
Transport for All director Faryal Velmi said: ‘Transport for All has heard time and again from disabled transport users who feel Southern Rail’s network is now a no-go zone; impacting on people’s ability to work and often leaving them increasingly isolated. The Department for Transport and rail industry must act urgently to prevent the basic rights of disabled passengers being flouted in this way.’
A DfT spokesman told Transport Network that the department does not comment on ongoing legal proceedings. He added that the DfT would complete its assessment of GTR’s claim of ‘force majeure’ (exceptional circumstances) ‘in due course’.
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