The train company chosen to take over most Sussex services has a worse punctuality record than the firm it will replace.
Govia, which runs Thameslink, fought off Connex to take over the service from the South Coast to London.
Commuters and MPs welcomed the change after Connex had been repeatedly criticised for dirty trains, overcrowding and punctuality.
But franchises run by Govia have suffered from worse train punctuality rates than Connex South Central, according to the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority. Figures for October 1999 to January showed 88.4 per cent of Connex trains arrived on time and Thameslink trailing at 88 per cent.
A Govia spokesman said the statistics were misleading. Punctuality on Thameslink trains had suffered because they were forced to carry passengers from cancelled Connex services.
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