‘Disaster’ warning over East Coast rail proposals

Labour’s Hugh Bayley, MP for York Central, urged the Government to “slow down” its plans to return the East Coast line to the private sector and consider commissioning an independent study to assess whether franchise bids would really be preferable to the current public sector operator.

The East Coast line has been in public hands since the previous private operator, National Express, pulled out in 2009 – the second time the franchise has collapsed since privatisation.

In March the Government announced it would be re-privatising the line just ahead of the next election in May 2015 – causing outcry among Labour MPs who believe it is performing well.

Speaking in a Commons debate last night, Mr Bayley told Transport Ministers: “This looks like a fire sale, rushed through before the 2015 general election.

“Slow down, even if you believe that re-privatisation is the right thing to do. Don’t make the same mistakes as you’ve made with the West Coast mainline.

“Take your time, and if you win the next general election you’ll go ahead with it, I’ve no doubt.

“But if you do it as a fire sale, it will be a disaster not just for the railway, but for the economies of our regions that are served by it.”

Edinburgh MP Sheila Gilmore attacked Rail Minister Simon Burns for recent comments that the East Coast line was not performing well and would be better off in private hands.

“I am concerned the talking down of East Coast, which has been going on to justify this, is going to damage morale at the company,” she said.

“That would be most unfair, because staff and management have worked extremely hard, achieved good results – there were one million extra passengers carried in 2012 compared to 2009, and record passenger satisfaction.”

But Mr Burns insisted a private operator was needed to help invest in the line.

“Governments are not awash with unlimited amounts of money,” he said.

“We are more ambitious for the East Coast mainline and we believe, from other franchisees, that they are prepared to invest their money as well to build on the investment that Government and other sources provide, to ensure there is more investment in improving the services for passengers.”