Umunna condemns industry award to First Group after Thameslink failings
Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, has condemned the Award of Business of the Year to First Group at the 2009 Rail Business Awards.
At the awards, First Group scooped the Business of the Year 2009 prize, while First Capital Connect (FCC), the subsidiary of the company which runs the Thameslink franchise, won two other awards including for “Internal Communications Excellence.”
Passengers of FCC have experienced severe disruption since November 2009 including many delays and cancellations, following an industrial dispute over staff pay and technical problems arising from the recent snowfall.
Other passenger complaints have included poor and/or non-existent communication at stations and shortened and overcrowded trains.
Mr Umunna said: “This is a complete slap in the face to the passengers who have been let down by First Capital Connect.
“Given what passengers have experienced, to name First Group Business of the Year is a complete joke.
“What’s more, First Capital Connect won an award for ‘communication’ yet there has been a severe lack of proper communication with the people who actually use their service here – these awards beggar belief!”
Last month, Chuka Umunna and Tessa Jowell, MP for neighbouring Dulwich and West Norwood, met with FCC bosses to go through in detail the huge number of complaints they have received about the service and demand immediate improvements.
As a result of the meeting, company bosses held a “Meet the Managers” event at Tulse Hill station earlier this month to address Thameslink users’ concerns.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has told FCC that the disruption experienced by passengers is unacceptable, and warned the operator that it could lose its franchise if the situation continues.
