With the future of the Southern Rail franchise in the balance, MPs have told ministers not to ‘duck’ the issue.
In a letter to Louise Ellman MP, chair of the Transport Committee, rail minister Paul Maynard stated that the Department for Transport (DfT) had assessed part of a claim for ‘force majeure’ (exeptional circumstances) from GTR, which runs Southern services, but that GTR was challenging its assessment.
Louise Ellman MP, chair of the Transport Committee
Mr Maynard did not give a timeline for completing the process, other than stating: ‘We expect to resolve this challenge as soon as possible.’
In response, Ms Ellman said: ‘GTR’s claims for force majeure were made 10 months ago. While the Transport Committee appreciates the complexity of the situation, the department must state publicly whether the company is in default of its contractual obligations.
‘The Department for Transport has a duty to act decisively in the best interests of passengers and taxpayers. At the last forecast, the department had already incurred losses of £38m in revenue - a figure likely to rise. Ministers cannot duck this issue. The Committee will continue to push for openness and clarity.’
In an earlier letter to MPs, Mr Maynard stated that the process of assessing the claim was ‘expected to be completed by mid-November’. Transport Network approached the DfT last week to enquire as to the progress of the force majeure claim but did not receive a reply.
The Committee said the DfT ‘should be considering all options to improve the situation for passengers, including termination or restructuring of the contract’.
In his letter, Mr Maynard warned: ‘It is important to note that termination of the franchise may be an option available to the Secretary of State and is not an absolute duty should GTR be found to have breached their targets.’
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