Labour to oppose rail line plans

The Government will seek a private operator for the East Coast Main Line rail franchise to take over in February 2015, arguing the move is necessary to attract investment in services.

But Labour insists the performance of East Coast, the Government-owned company which has operated services since 2009, means there is a case for it remaining in public hands.

Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle said: “Since being run on a not-for-private profit basis, East Coast services have improved and more than £800m has been returned to tax-payers in contrast to the two previous failed private operators. If Ministers get away with selling off the East Coast then the fares paid by passengers will once again be benefitting a few at the top instead of improving the service.

“The Government should stop misleading people that this privatisation is necessary to deliver investment. The truth is that the planned upgrade ... and the new generation of high speed InterCity trains that are on their way are being paid for by the taxpayer and will happen regardless of who is running the service.”

National Express was the last business to run East Coast services but handed the franchise back saying it could not make the line pay. Two years earlier, GNER had also given the line up over costs.