I know that for some of you it was quite a struggle to get there, thanks to the rail services. I think it was important for GTR representatives to hear directly, and in no uncertain terms, just how angry passengers are, and how great the impact of their failing service is on all of our lives.

A number of issues and actions came out of the meeting. Firstly, the meeting made very clear that there was no appetite to have the role of the conductors on the trains changed to the role of on-board supervisors (with the loss of the safety remit that entails), as is being proposed by GTR. I’ll be looking into whether there are relevant clauses in the franchise agreement that could be amended in order to keep conductors on the trains. With regard to this change of roles, as well as concerns about safety that were aired at the meeting, I’ve heard from constituents employed on the trains that they’re concerned that jobs as on-board supervisors might be at risk when the current franchise comes to an end in 2021. So I’ll be pressing the Government to at least guarantee that these roles will be kept beyond the current franchise period.

Going back to the issue of safety, I’m determined to get some clarity on how this is regulated and monitored on trains and at stations. Concerns about this came across loudly and clearly at the meeting, not just as an ongoing issue - for example, the valuable contribution that rail staff make when they check along the platform that train passengers are safely on board - but particularly during the current crisis, when platforms are overcrowded and large groups of people are being encouraged to move from platform to platform at short notice. I’ll be alerting GTR chief executive Charles Horton to these concerns. I’ll also seek to establish where responsibility for independent regulation lies, given that the rail safety body, the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), is both funded, and has board membership from, rail companies themselves.

Another issue that stood out strongly at the meeting was the matter of compensation. I’ll be going straight to Charles Horton about this, given the non-committal response from GTR staff at the meeting after I clarified to them that train operating companies do indeed have some discretion on this matter. A number of constituents have been in touch about this, in particular with reference to season tickets, so I’ll be pressing for a response that actually demonstrates a degree of goodwill towards the service users who have put up with so much on the train lines in and out of Brighton. I’ll also continue to urge the Government to reduce the threshold for compensation for delays from 30 to 15 minutes. I’ve already raised this through parliamentary questions and I think this is something over which GTR should most certainly exercise discretion.

Finally, as I’m sure you’re aware, GTR has proposed an amended timetable over the next four weeks. Thank you to those who’ve already written to me about how this will impact upon you. When announcing the change, GTR said that “Southern will run longer trains and replacement bus services as well where possible”. I believe that “where possible” simply isn’t good enough and I’ll be asking for more carriages on the route as a matter of urgency.

While I hope that the actions I’ve outlined above will make some difference, I will continue to call upon the Government to strip GTR of its franchise. In Parliament, on the day before our Brighton meeting, I co-sponsored an Early Day Motion to that effect and I have to say that the response of the rail company representatives at last night’s meeting did nothing to convince me that GTR is capable of delivering a decent service.

In the coming weeks and months I will continue to put as much pressure on GTR and on Ministers as I possibly can. Please do continue to keep me in touch with your experiences.

Finally, also at the meeting was Shelley Atlas, chair of Brighton Line Commuters, a group that campaigns for better services for passengers and shares useful information on relevant issues. Shelley asked me to pass on the group’s email address, in case you’d like to get in touch for membership details and to receive their updates - blc.railgroup@gmail.com.