Commuters from Brighton and Hove start navigating their third train timetable in two months this morning (Monday 16 July).
The new timetable started yesterday but faces its first genuine test this morning.
It comes after train operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) brought in a completely new timetable from Sunday 20 May.
Since then one in ten GTR trains – which include Southern, Thameslink and the Gatwick Express – has been cancelled or significantly late, according to the most recent figures from Network Rail.
And punctuality has dropped below 80 per cent.
The train company brought in a temporary reduced timetable from the first full week of June, with more than one in five services removed.
It hasn’t had the desired effect.
A key aim of the latest timetable overhaul is to improve punctuality and reliability on commuter trains – the busiest services on the busiest part of the rail network.
GTR said that its new timetable “provides passengers with a more robust and reliable service, gives priority to peak-hour trains and seeks to reduce gaps in the service”.
The timetable chaos led to the resignation of Charles Horton as chief executive of GTR.
Former London Midland and Merseyrail boss Patrick Verwer is due to take over the top job at GTR later this month.
The problems led to growing calls for Transport Secretary Chrid Grayling to resign.
The government has suggested that if services do not improve, GTR could lose its franchise.
