Furious passengers have attacked the decision to hand a major award to the company behind the heavily criticised Thameslink rail service.

First Group, parent company of Thameslink operators First Capital Connect (FCC), was named business of the year 2009 at the annual Rail Business Awards earlier this month.

FCC was also awarded prizes in the young professional of the year and internal communications excellence categories during the rail industry ceremony at the London Hilton.

Passengers have been using the internet to voice their anger at the decision. One said: “Anyone who has the misfortune to have to rely on FCC to get to work every day will be horrified to read this.” Another said: “Couldn't make it up. Dumbfounded. Totally dumbfounded.”

Politicians and passenger watchdogs have also questioned the awards, which were made on February 11.

The Thameslink service, which connects Streatham station with central London, was criticised last year after staffing problems led to repeated cancellations and eventually a reduced service. In January transport minister Lord Adonis said FCC could be stripped of the franchise if it continued to perform badly.

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, said: "This is a complete slap in the face to the passengers who have been let down by FCC. Given what passengers have experienced, to name First Group business of the year is a complete joke.

"What's more, First Capital Connect won an award for communication yet there has been a severe lack of proper communication with the people who actually use their service here – these awards beggar belief."

Guy Dangerfield, a manager at consumer watchdog Passenger Focus, said: “Passengers will want to be assured that FCC trains will work in the cold weather, what is being done to reduce FCC’s reliance on overtime working to run its timetable and what can be done to improve the compensation offer already announced?”

A spokesman for FCC said: "It was the judges decision. It was a very strong competition and the judges made their decision on the quality they saw in the entries which reflect the past year in rail.

He added: "Our customer information provision has not been good enough throughout the period of disruption and we are thoroughly reviewing this. "