Keep East Coast trains public say campaigners

The petition, to stop the East Coast line being re-privatised, was handed yesterday to Shadow Rail Minister Lilian Greenwood and Green Party MP Caroline Lucas.

The line between Yorkshire and Scotland and London has been run in the public sector since autumn 2009 but is due to go back into private ownership in early 2015.

The petition has been signed by more than 23,000 passengers. Also, more than 60 MPs from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Green and Scottish National (SNP) parties have signed an early day motion calling on the Government not to re-privatise the line

The campaign is supported by RMT union general secretary Bob Crow and TSSA union general secretary Manuel Cortes. They argue that a publicly-run East Coast is better value for money than under privatisation.

Campaigners highlighted figures which showed that East Coast paid £208m in premium and dividend payments to the Treasury in the last financial year.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Privatising the East Coast Main Line defies all logic. Since it was re-nationalised the line has made a large contribution to the taxpayer, bringing in over £600m already.

“By taking the East Coast out of public ownership the Government will be passing the income the line raises into the pockets of corporate shareholders, when it should be using the cash to reduce rail fares and improve services.”