COMMUTERS taking the Government to court over its handling of the Southern rail crisis are nearly ready to launch their legal challenge.

The Association of British Commuters (ABC) hopes to submit an application calling for a judicial review by the end of January and its lawyers are expected to release more details on the nature of the complaint very soon.

The group claims the Department for Transport has failed passengers in the way it has dealt with the contract for Govia Thameslink Railway - Southern's parent company.

The news comes as the row between the company and unions continue. Aslef, the drivers' union, will walk out again for three days next week and on Wednesday announced more strikes for later in the month.

The RMT said yesterday it had accepted an offer to hold talks about the strike with transport secretary Chris Grayling.

Meanwhile the rail regulator said using driver-only operated trains, a topic at the centre of the row, was a "safe method of working" in a report published yesterday.

The announcement was welcomed by GTR and the Government but met with anger from unions.

Mr Grayling said the announcement meant there were "no grounds" for strikes to go ahead.

Group co-founder Emily Yates said the claim looks at problems dating back two years, adding: "This week we are seeing renewed proof this crisis has not just been about the strikes but problems with the network as well.

"There has been a terrible meltdown of services.

"People are very angry and worried. The situation is urgent, it has been for six months.

"There is sheer disbelief and anger that the DfT is not stepping in to solve the crisis.

"This could finish off the whole region. It is just unbelievable it can be allowed to go on for so long."

The grounds of the case, which are yet to be confirmed, are "sure to take on" the transport secretary's "refusal to act in the public interest" among other concerns like fears over a lack of disabled access on the network, the group said.

Its lawyers spent months receiving "highly unsatisfactory responses and repeated, time-wasting extensions" to requests for information from the DfT, a statement said, adding: "To this day, the details of the government’s contract with Southern Rail remain under lock and key and there has never been a stronger or more urgent case for transparency than now."

The transport pressure group was founded in Brighton in May in response to "intolerably poor service from Southern Rail" and raised £25,000 through crowdfunding to pay for legal fees.

It is now supported by thousands of passengers who use the Southern network, particularly those who live in Sussex.

It is considering launching a second legal campaign following a raft requests to put together a class action for claims on financial losses over the thoughts of the year.

It is asking its members for their thoughts on the suggestion.