Southern Railway Train

Southern not totally to blame for poor service says government

The £13.4m fine for Southern’s owners for poor performance would’ve been higher, but most of the delays weren’t their fault says the government.

They’ve said strikes and unprecedented levels of sick leave were factors, although, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling says it doesn’t fully explain the poor service.

The RMT who are locked in a dispute with the rail operator over driver-only-trains says they’ve been “let off the hook.”

Govia Thames Link who own Southern says they accept the fine as a “fair outcome.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40591938