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# Government give £20 million to help improve Southern train services
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/government-give-20-million-to-help-improve-southern-train-services/
- Published: 2016-09-01T22:16:40.000Z
- Updated: 2016-09-01T22:16:40.000Z
- Description: Government create £20 million fund to help improve performance of the Southern network and train services.
- Author: Sarah Green
- Tags: In The South, News, Politics, Chris Grayling MP, Simon Kirby MP

## Government creates £20 million fund to help improve performance of the Southern network and train services.

![Chris Grayling MP](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web-600.jpg)

Chris Grayling MP

**Transport Secretary,** **Chris Grayling MP**, today confirmed a £20 million fund and the appointment of one of Britain’s most experienced rail industry figures to help get the service back running as it should.

**Chris Gibb** will head a new project board, working with the train operator, the Department for Transport and Network Rail. The board will oversee the £20 million fund and closer working between Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) Ltd and Network Rail to improve performance for Southern customers. A passenger representative will also be included on this review board.

![Simon Kirby MP](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web-200.jpg)

Simon Kirby MP

**Commenting on the announcement Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven, said:** *“I welcome the news that the Government is investing £20 million and creating a new project board to help to resolve some of the terrible problems that commuters in my constituency have had to put up with for months.”*

**Chris Grayling MP, added:** *“I want the Southern network to be run by a team of people who work together to make sure passengers get decent journeys and that problems are dealt with quickly. This review will suggest how we achieve a joined up approach to running the train and tracks and make things work better for the public.*

*“We also need to get to grips with things that go wrong on this part of the network. That is why we are putting in place a £20 million scheme to tackle the cause of breakdowns that too often cause frustrating and damaging delays on the network.*

*“I now urge the industry, the train operating company and unions to work together to improve services for passengers.”*

**Key additional benefits of the £20 million include:**

♦ £2 million to be spent on more rapid response teams to fix faults more quickly, located close to known hotspots

♦ £2.5 million to be spent on accelerated train maintenance

♦ £0.8 million investment in extra signal supervisors to keep trains moving across the network

♦ £0.9 million investment in a series of measures to minimise the impact of bridge strikes

Following the announcement a 24 hour strike by ticket office staff for next Wednesday (7) has been cancelled.