Michael Dugher MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, responding to news that the contract for the franchise to run the East Coast Main Line has been signed, said:

“This decision is a betrayal of taxpayers and the travelling public. David Cameron has put privatisation ahead of the public interest. This whole rushed franchise process to re-privatise the East Coast Mine Line should never have happened.

“East Coast has achieved top customer satisfaction ratings, established itself as one of the best train operating companies in the country, and will have returned over £1 billion to the Exchequer before privatisation.

“It’s ridiculous that our own public operator was barred from running to continue to operate the line. Labour has called for a wholesale review of the franchise process. A different approach is needed – one that puts the public interest first, reverses the presumption against the public sector and properly stands up for passengers.“

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