More than 100 fed-up commuters descended upon London Victoria last night to protest government inaction over Britain’s worst rail company last night.

The Association of British Commuters (ABC) organised the protest to bring attention to the perceived failure of the Department for Transport (DfT) to act during the last 18 months as Southern Rail passengers face delays and cancellations.

Hundreds of angry passengers vented their anger against Southern at London Victoria in July.

From July: Angry commuters stage train station protest over Southern's 'absolute shambles'

The ABC has also launched a crowdfunder to raise money for a judicial review into the award of a contract to Southern's owners Govia Thameslink Railway. More than 1,000 backers have pledged more than £20,000 towards the case.

A spokesman from the Department for Transport (DfT) today insisted improving the service for customers was a priority for the DfT, and blamed the RMT union for prolonging a dispute over the role of guards on trains.

From September: Government announces £20m fund to 'get to grips' with Southern rail

The DfT injected £20m into the beleaguered rail provider earlier this month in an effort to turn around the service’s performance and tackle commuter chaos on its lines.

Also from September: Southern rail owner posts nearly £100m in profits - less than 24 hours after £20m Government handout

Less than 24 hours later, the Go-Ahead group, which owns Southern, posted yearly profits of nearly £100m.

A Southern spokesman said “steadily restoring” showed their determination to improve their service.

Southern Rail has long provoked passengers’ ire for delays, cancellations and overcrowded conditions.

From January: Commuters name Thameslink and Southern as among the worst in the country in national survey

A survey by regulators at the Office of Rail and Road found that GTR, which also runs Thameslink trains and the Gatwick Express service, had the worst punctuality in the country in the year to March 2016. Just one in five Southern trains arrived on time in the year to March 2016.

Messages of support from MPs and campaign groups were read out to the throng as protestors brandished placards reading ‘Southern Discomfort’ and ‘#SouthernJustice’ last night.

An ABC spokesperson said: “Having been front-line witnesses to the unravelling of Southern Rail through the course of the last 18 months, we are well aware of the long-term and entrenched mismanagement behind it.

“We remain frustrated with the lack of answers and accountability from the DfT and urge them to step up and give the public the transparency it deserves.

“This is all the more troubling when we remember that the Southern Franchising agreement is actually unique in the UK as a management contract where the company is paid a flat management fee to run the network.

“The DfT’s failure to act or provide clarity means, therefore, that there is a total vacuum where an accountable body should be.

“It’s incomprehensible that a shambles of the scale of Southern Rail should be allowed to continue - the public have a right to clarity, and a right to the service they are paying extortionate fares for.”

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A DfT spokesperson said: “Improving rail services for Southern passengers is a priority for the Government and for the operator and we are committed to a railway that delivers the timely, modern and convenient service passengers expect.

“We recently announced that a project board will be appointed to improve performance on the Southern network, to be led by experienced rail industry professional Chris Gibb. Network Rail has also committed £20m to tackle problems on the line.

“Simply changing the management or taking the franchise from GTR would not address the issues and would only create uncertainty and cause further disruption. It could also delay the introduction of modern, more spacious trains by Southern. We have been clear that the real solution is for the RMT to bring this dispute to a close. Passengers should not have to put up with disruption any longer.”

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A Southern spokesperson said: “We understand the strength of feeling and frustration among our passengers and sincerely apologise for the recent poor service.

“We’re determined to make things better and have been steadily restoring services to the full timetable – most recently on Monday when we reinstated trains to Seaford.

“Meanwhile, we urge the RMT union to stop this unnecessary dispute, to become part of the solution rather than the problem and save our passengers and staff still more pain.”

Carshalton and Wallington MP, Tom Brake, attended yesterday’s rally. He called on the government to improve an “unfair, confusing and inefficient compensation system” for passengers delayed on Southern trains.

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Mr Brake (pictured above) said: ''London commuters have long suffered Southern Rail's incompetence and thoroughly dreadful service. We're paying huge sums of money every year for delayed and overcrowded trains – and that's only if they even turn up.

“It's time for the Government to stand up to GTR and strip Southern of their franchise immediately and hand it over to Transport for London (TfL). The service is terrible and it needs to be fixed immediately. By bringing suburban rail services under TfL's control, I believe we would see a noticeable improvement.”

One of the Green party’s two leaders, Caroline Lucas (pictured below), MP for Brighton Pavilion, did not attend the demonstration, but sent a message of support to the protest.

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“Enough is enough,” she said. The Government cannot keep letting Southern and its parent company GTR off the hook, leaving communities and businesses, including those in my constituency in Brighton, genuinely suffering. Because let’s not forget that this isn’t just about Southern - the Government has the power to hold the rail company to account. It has the power to give rail users proper compensation.

"The Government also has the power to end the management contract with Southern’s parent company GTR and to put it where it belongs – in public hands – and I’ll be fighting for this from the moment Parliament re-convenes next week.”

The ABC has also launched a crowdfunder to raise money for a judicial review into the award of a contract to Southern's owners Govia Thameslink Railway. More than 1,000 backers have pledged more than £20,000 towards the case.

To donate to the ABC’s crowdfunder, for a judicial review into the award of a contract to Southern's owners, visit www.crowdjustice.co.uk/case/southernrail/