Anybody who uses Southern Rail on a daily basis, knows that the sh1t that they have to put up with over the last 12 months, is totally unacceptable.
I work in South London, and I can struggle to recall when I had two consecutive days, when my scheduled train was not cancelled. The issue was, who closed the doors. Driver or Conductor. Personally I couldnt give a fu#k who closes them.
If the RMT were not on strike, then they were phoning in sick. Trains did not run, because there were no conductors, this meant that the knock on effect was, the drivers were in the wrong location, so their scheduled train could not run. Every day I would hear the station announcer at Victoria, say, "will the driver of whiskey delta blah blah, make himself known immediately. In other words, where the fu#k are you?
The words "this train has been cancelled, due to a temporary shortage of staff" are still ringing in my ears.
You get on one train, and sit there for twenty minutes, if you can find a seat, only to be told that this train is now cancelled. You know have to find another one. You and the hundreds of other people waiting in the concourse. Thats if they will allow you on. Twice at London Bridge, I have seen ticket barriers being closed, and trains being sent out empty, in order to prevent a rush of people. Thats after they give you ONE minutes notice, of what platform its arriving on.
I have been on trains that have just terminated at East Croydon, and according to the very embaressed conductors announcement, " the driver has informed me.."
I have even been on one train, when just south of Purley, it ground to a sudden halt. Sorry about the delay, said the driver, but we appear to be on the wrong track. We had to make very slow progress to the next set of points.
On a regular basis, my working day became about 15 hours. You have just got in, had something to eat, and a shower, and the alarms going off again.
I have ended up using the number 60 and 405 bus on a regular basis.
Southern rail better than British Rail? You can kiss my @rse.
Rant over.
Also 35% of Southern Rail is owned by Kelios, France's largest transport group. Again, the profits made essentially go to improving France's public transport and making it cheaper. Kelios used to own 45% of First TransPennine Express as well. Being in the EU has no bearing on this either, basically the results of franchising.