A train company has apologised after the launch of a petition over late and cancelled trains.

Govia Thameslink took over from the much-criticised First Capital Connect on lines serving Radlett and Elstree and Borehamwood stations on September 14.

A total of seven fatalities occurred on Thameslink routes in the first three weeks of its new contract – but around 23 per cent of delays can be attributed solely to Thameslink and Great Northern services.

Passengers have reacted angrily to the poor servive, with many trains from Elstree and Borehamwood and Radlett being cancelled or suffering severe delays each day.

A petition has now been started to force the company to improve its services.

Creator Sophie Klimt said: “Govia Thameslink won the bid to run our trains by vowing to cut costs and it appears they have done this by reducing staff and foregoing essential maintenance work. Every day trains are delayed due to "staff shortages", "broken down trains" and "signal failure".

“This company should not be allowed to continue providing such terrible service.”

More than 700 people have now signed the petition, while passengers continue to take their complaints to social media.

Liz Whiteman tweeted Thameslink, saying: “This is the third day in a row that you have cancelled trains. Tuesday, three trains in four cancelled from St Pancras to Radlett- what's going on?”

Josh Phillips also expressed his frustration to the company, tweeting: “Sitting at Radlett station and quite literally every other train has been cancelled. Get it together?”

Mauro Mauz Saccardo added: "Train of 34 minutes past from Radlett cancelled again. I urge all the commuters to collect signatures against this appalling service!"

Now Charles Horton, chief executive officer for Govia Thameslink, has issued an apology for the spate of delays.

In a statement, Mr Horton said: “We would like to apologise for service levels, in particular on Thameslink. We appreciate that recent weeks have been a difficult and sometimes frustrating time for many of our passengers and we are sorry if you have been personally affected by delayed and cancelled services.

“When we took over the franchise in September we knew that punctuality and reliability on the Thameslink route in particular had been declining for the past three years.

“We immediately put plans in place to address the underlying issues but knew that the changes we are making will take time to deliver their full results.”