Business leaders urge Chris Grayling to give TfL suburban rail amid Southern strike chaos

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said Sadiq's plans posed a danger of “deckchair shifting” with no real improvement for passengers.
Jeremy Selwyn

An alliance of groups from business leaders to Labour today called on Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to back down over the refusal to hand London’s suburban rail services to the Mayor.

A challenge gathered steam amid fury over the rail strikes and train breakdowns inflicting misery on half a million commuters this week.

Colin Stanbridge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “These strikes are another reminder why we really think that London-bound overground trains should be run by Transport for London.

“We hope this latest ...heavy inconvenience and damage to the economy will cause Chris Grayling to have a rethink.”

A member of Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet called for an independent review of Mr Grayling’s decision. Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said a senior industry figure should assess the evidence and make recommendations.

Plan: Sadiq Khan put forward proposals to take over running of suburban rail including Southern Rail.
EPA

“It could be carried out quite quickly and, if it comes out in favour of TfL’s proposals, Chris Grayling should accept that assessment,” he added. “People could then have some hope that they will have a reliable rail service in future.”

In an interview with the Standard last week Mr Grayling blocked Mayor Sadiq Khan’s plan to run overground rail currently managed by Southeastern and made clear he was not convinced by Mr Khan’s proposal to run other train franchises within the M25.

A day later the Standard revealed a 2013 letter in which Mr Grayling spoke of keeping railways “out of the clutches of any future Labour mayor”.

Today Mr Khan stepped up his campaign in a round of TV interviews, accusing Mr Grayling of “playing party politics”.

He argued that TfL’s record running London Overground showed it could improve the chaotic Southern rail franchise. “Let my team go in this week to help,” he said.

“We can do a deal with you, the Government, that means fewer strikes, fewer delays and fewer cancellations.”

Allies of Mr Grayling scorned the claim, saying Southern’s dispute with unions over driver-only operated trains would not go away if the Mayor took charge. Some transport officials claim unions are using strike to get the franchise nationalised.

Labour sources suggested suitable candidates to run its proposed review could include Network Rail chairman and former Transport for London boss Sir Peter Hendy. Other names include Christopher Garnett, ex-chief of Great North Eastern Railway, and National Grid boss Nicola Shaw, ex-chief of HS1.

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