The South Eastern rail franchise agreement has been making headlines recently as the government weighs its options for the future of the franchise.

The South Eastern franchise has been operated by Govia since 2006, with the most recent franchise agreement running from 2014 to 2018. The company has faced criticism from passengers and politicians alike for issues such as delays, cancellations, and overcrowding.

The franchise agreement is set to expire on November 10, 2019, and the government is currently considering three options for the future of the franchise. The first option is to extend the current agreement with Govia, the second is to bring the franchise back under public control, and the third is to open up the franchise to other private companies.

Critics of Govia argue that the company should not be allowed to continue running the franchise due to their poor performance record. Proponents of public ownership argue that this would ensure that the needs of passengers are put first and that profits are not prioritized over service.

However, those in favor of private competition argue that competition would lead to increased innovation and better service for passengers. They also point out that bringing the franchise back under public control would require significant government investment.

Regardless of the decision made by the government, it is clear that the South Eastern rail franchise agreement will have significant implications for commuters and the wider public. It remains to be seen whether the government will prioritize the needs of passengers or the bottom line in their decision-making process.