PRESSURE is being put on the Government to publish a report into the running of Southern Railway.

The report was carried out by Chris Gibb, a non-executive Network Rail director with 35 years’ experience in the industry.

It was handed to the Department for Transport last year.

Unions, passenger groups and politicians have been calling for the report to be published amid continuing problems on Southern.

This includes the threat of further industrial action over staffing and driver-only trains.

The report is expected to highlight problems of passenger congestion at Victoria station in London, where many of Southern’s services start or finish, according to sources.

It is understood senior managers told Mr Gibb about the issue when he visited the station as part of his inquiry.

Rail, Maritime and Transport union general secretary Mick Cash said: “It is scandalous that the Gibb report remains under lock and key in a vault at the Department for Transport.

“RMT is demanding its immediate publication as the stench of the Southern Rail fiasco hangs like a cloud over this Government.

“Not only does RMT want to see the Gibb report but the union is also stepping up the campaign to reverse the attack on the guards and to end the privatised rip-off that blights Britain’s railways.”

A Department for Transport spokesman said the report would be published in due course.

He said: “Performance on Southern has been consistently better since the new year and making sure passengers keep seeing a reliable and efficient service is a priority for the Government and the operator.

“We are investing £300 million to improve performance and resilience on Southern’s route and nearly 60,000 passengers have now taken up a special package of compensation.”