GOVERNMENT RAIL CONTRACTS AND DRIVER ONLY OPERATION

That this House notes that Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which is seeking to extend driver only operation, runs Southern Rail services through a contract let by the Government; further notes that the unions have recently reached agreement on other government rail contracts, such as Great Western and East Coast in respect of new modern rolling stock, the role of the guard and train dispatch; therefore believes that the basis for a resolution to the Southern rail dispute exists; and calls on the Government to urgently meet the unions without any preconditions and before further strike action to explore how its contractor GTR can reach a similar deal with the unions.