Just Tweeted by Grant Shapps, that the Southeastern franchise will imminently transfer to the Operator of Last Resort (OLR), appears to suggest some form of corruption. No further details at the moment.
Investigations have identified a serious breach of good faith by Southeastern.
To protect taxpayers’ interests and passengers I have ordered the Operator of Last Resort to urgently take over the running of rail services in the South East.
Over £25m of historic payments due to the Department were not declared - a significant breach of the franchise agreement.
We won't accept anything less from the private sector than a total commitment to their passengers, and transparency with taxpayers.
Fares, tickets and services are unchanged for passengers.
Through the OLR we’ll prioritise the punctual, reliable services passengers deserve, rebuild trust, and deliver the reforms set out in our #PlanForRail.