Monday brings more misery for Govia commuters

(ShareCast News) - Monday saw another morning of misery for commuters served by Govia, as a broken down train sparked delays on Southeastern services.Trains were suspended between Plumstead and Dartford on the North Kent line after the train failed at Belvedere.Southeastern reported services as delayed, cancelled and revised through the morning peak.Govia is a joint venture, 65% owned by the FTSE 250 firm Go-Ahead Group and 35% by French firm Keolis, which itself is controlled by the French nationalised railway SNCF.The misery comes a day before workers on the Southern section of another Govia operation - Govia Thameslink Railway - walk out amid an ongoing dispute around doors.Conductors on Southern contest that moving door-closing responsibilities to drivers will devalue their jobs and put passenger safety at risk, according to the Rail and Maritime Transport Union.Southern has advised that a very limited service will run between 0730 and 1800, with no service on some routes on Tuesday.The franchise has also been hit by a much-higher than usual number of staff calling in sick on a daily basis since the dispute began.Go-Ahead issued a profit warning earlier this month, slashing its margin forecasts on the Govia Thameslink Railway superfranchise to 1.5% from 3%.Govia Thameslink Railway includes services operated under the Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express banners.The company also operates the London Midland franchise on the West Coast Main Line and in the West Midlands.