IAIN ANDERSON, the senior regional organiser for the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, said that members welcomed the new franchisee.

He said: "The contract should have remained in the public sector because that’s where it belongs, but in reality it had to be let.

"I have had dealings with Govia on the Southern and Thames Link lines and it is a reasonable company to deal with. I hope it will take a different view on the ticket office opening hours."

But he added that the union and its members could not be complacent.

Mr Anderson explained that the proposals to slash the opening hours of ticket offices by South Eastern Trains had caused strong ripples of discontent among staff.

The Government has told South Eastern Trains to defer their controversial plans until the new franchisee took over the running of the line.