20 July 2016
RMT Press Office:
RMT says passengers and staff "being held hostage" by Govia Thameslink as Brighton Station closed last night due to dangerous overcrowding.
Rail union RMT said today that passengers and staff are being "held hostage" by Govia Thameslink as services collapsed into dangerous chaos last night with Brighton Station closed due to lethal overcrowding.
Services this morning have been plagued by delays, cancellations and short formations across the franchise with passengers taking to social media to lay the blame firmly at the door of the company and the government.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
"The situation on GTR has now moved from chaotic to downright dangerous and the continuing attempts to blame that on the front line staff by the company bosses is outrageous. Are the company going to try and blame this mornings chronic rolling stock shortage on the drivers and the guards? Their gross mismanagement and outright lies are disgraceful.
"Passengers and staff alike are being held hostage by this failed rail operation and the silence from the new team at the DfT is deafening.
"There has to be urgent action to remove GTR and bring in Directly Operated Railways before there is a major disaster. "
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