The timetables bit is key here. the reason a lot of services failed so horribly in 2018/2019 was because as OP pointed out, greyling fucked up the timetabling.

The timetables bit is key here. the reason a lot of services failed so horribly in 2018/2019 was because as OP pointed out, greyling fucked up the timetabling. Not only that, they decided to pick a fight with the unions on southern rail, which turned out to end in a messy stalemate. https://www.londonreconnections.com/ https://www.londonreconnections.com/ has some good references.