Campaigners from the LibDems in Lewes went up to London, calling on the Government to sack Southern Rail, before handing over the petition. Kelly-Marie Blundell, Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Lewes, joined Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake and London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon to hand in the petition calling for an end to Southern’s running of the county’s rail franchise. The signatures were collected online and in person from constituencies along the Southern network, which runs across Sussex from London Victoria down to the county’s coastal towns. Kelly-Marie Blundell said: “People are sick of the delays, cancellations and continued problems on Southern. “Locally, we saw 80 per cent of Southern trains cut from Lewes, Newhaven, Polegate and Seaford over the summer, and while it has allegedly been restored, I and thousands of people like me spend hours stranded on services across Sussex. “Unions and strikes are a distraction. Every train I tried to catch last week was delayed, cancelled or replaced with buses, and there were no strikes. “Quite simply, commuters in Lewes district have had enough, and it’s time the Government paid attention to the problem and stripped Southern of the contract to deliver rail services.” Commuters have until Thursday (December 8) to have their say on proposed changes to train timetables across the Southern network, which come into effect in 2018 following the completion of the Thameslink Programme. To take part click here. Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. 1) Make our website your homepage at www.sussexexpress.co.uk/ 2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Sussex-Express/ 3) Follow us on Twitter @sussex_express 4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out! The Sussex Express - always the first with your local news. Be part of it.