Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, responding to the Government’s announcement that a new rail franchise, the “West Coast Partnership”, will combine the current InterCity West Coast services with High Speed 2 (HS2) services, meaning that HS2 services will be run in the private sector, said:
“If we are going to invest billions of taxpayers’ money into HS2 it is right that the revenues go back to the Exchequer and not straight into the hands of subsidy dependent train operating companies.”
“HS2 should be run in the public sector, as a public service. Considering the concerns over the cost of HS2, the Government should be looking to get the best deal for the UK rather than the shareholders of private train companies or taxpayers in Germany, France or Holland.”
“This does nothing to deflect Labour from our commitment to the public ownership and running of our railways and that includes HS2. A future Labour Government would bring any such franchise back within public operation at the earliest possible opportunity.”
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