A RAIL operator is bowing out of running a train service after 21 years – as passengers endured yet more delays on the Weymouth-Waterloo line.

Responsibility for the South Western franchise passes from South West Trains (Stagecoach) to new operator First/MTR at 1:59am tomorrow (Sunday).

Stagecoach paid tribute to its 5,000 rail employees as it prepared to complete its contract with the Department for Transport to run one of Europe’s biggest rail networks.

Major work to improve the railway is continuing right up to the end of the contract including at Waterloo where there has been severe disruption.

And the company said it will be giving two weeks’ worth of free travel to its monthly and longer season ticket holders for the inconvenience caused as a result of the Waterloo upgrade work.

Weymouth-Waterloo passengers faced further delays early yesterday due to a fault with a set of points on the line towards Poole.

In the latest problem to blight the network, services were delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised, and there was disruption until around 9am.

Stagecoach said billions of pounds have been invested in train service improvements under its stewardship of the South West Trains franchise over the past 21 years.

It says it has contributed more to the taxpayer than any other operator and played a critical role in the UK economy.

The firm thanked staff, industry partners and other stakeholders who have helped transform rail services for customers.

Martin Griffiths, chief executive of Stagecoach Group, said: “I am very proud of the huge amount of work that’s been done over the past two decades to improve rail services for customers travelling with South West Trains.

“This is testament to the commitment of our 5,000-strong team of employees and the great partnership we have with Network Rail and other key suppliers. Collectively, they work hard day in, day out as one railway to deliver a great service to customers.

“The South West Trains network today has more rail services than ever before, one of the most reliable train fleets in the country and is carrying double the number of passengers than in 1996 when we took over from nationalised British Rail.”

Tim Shoveller, Managing Director for Stagecoach Rail, added: “We’ve done a huge amount over the last two decades to improve things for our customers with massive investment in every single area of our service.

“Our team will remain focussed on delivering the best service for passengers right up to the very last minute of our franchise, from our ongoing major contribution to the Waterloo development project through to ensuring a smooth handover to the new franchise owner.

“We would like to take the opportunity to thank our customers for the last 21 years, and more recently for their patience during Waterloo works. We know that our regular season ticket holders in particular have been significantly disrupted over the past two weeks and had changes to their normal journeys, and we hope that two weeks of free travel will be helpful for those passengers."

The last South West Trains service to run under the existing franchise will be the 01:42 from London Waterloo to Surbiton.