New boss of South Western Railway says he will work 'tirelessly' to end chaos experienced by passengers

The new boss of South Western Railway has told ITV News West Country he will work 'tirelessly' to end the chaos experienced by passengers, but admits there is no quick fix.

Passengers have been left frustrated by poor punctuality and reliability, since the company took over the franchise in 2017. Credit: ITV News

The service operates routes connecting London Waterloo with Bristol and Weymouth. It also serves Exeter and Yeovil.

The line lost £137 million last year and has been in a long-running dispute about the role of guards on trains.

The new managing director admits there is no quick fix but changes are being made.

Mark Hopwood, Managing Director, South Western Railway Credit: ITV News
According to the new boss, by working closely with Network Rail, disruption should reduce. Credit: ITV News

A new fleet of trains coming in the summer are specifically designed for people to get on and off quicker, according to the new boss.

However, there are calls that support nationalisation of the line. And the government says this is South Western Railway's last chance, but the new boss believes this won't be necessary.