Southern rail franchise operator Go-Ahead sees profits surge to £100m
Go-Ahead Group, which jointly operates the troubled Southern rail franchise, has seen profits soar 27% to £99.8 million, with its chief executive apologising to passengers for continuous disruptions.
The company, which owns 65% of Southern operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) alongside Keolis, also saw revenues rise 4.5% to £3.4 billion.
Boss David Brown said: "A large part of the role of the GTR franchise is to introduce three new train fleets and modernise working practices. During this period of change, Southern services have been disrupted by restricted network capacity, strike action and increased levels of absence.
"We apologise to the people whose lives have been affected during this time. We continue to work closely with the DfT, Network Rail and other suppliers and partners to operate the best service possible while delivering the long-term improvements."
