Mayor Dave: While Government Still Fails to Take Responsibility for its Rail Failings, Passengers Need Improvements Now

Commenting following news of the resignation today of Charles Horton as Chief Executive of Govia Thameslink Railway, Mayor Dave Hodgson has said that it's right that senior figures should take responsibility, and called on the Government to do so over its failures too.

He also called for relief now for beleaguered rail passengers, via both urgent improvements to Thameslink services and the immediate reinstatement of peak-time intercity East Midlands trains at Bedford.

Mayor Dave said: "It's right that senior figures take responsibility for the utter misery that rail users have suffered since the new timetables were introduced last month.'

"Of course, it's the Government that is ultimately responsible and the Government was warned that the system was not ready. And of course it's the Government which approved the removal of peak-time intercity fast trains from Bedford, leaving us with rail replacement buses for two years and a shambles of a service to and from London since 20th May.'

"So it would be good to see those who are supposed to ultimately be accountable to the public take responsibility too. And most importantly, we need action now to provide relief for beleaguered passengers, both via urgent improvements to the Thameslink services and the reinstatement of peak-time intercity trains at Bedford immediately."