Mary Creagh MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, responding to launch of the East Coast franchising process, said:

“David Cameron should tackle his Government’s cost of living crisis and cap rail fare rises for struggling commuters, instead of obsessing about handing East Coast over to the private sector. East Coast is working well and will have returned £800 million to the taxpayer by the end of this financial year.

“This Government has learned nothing from the West Coast franchising fiasco, which saw over £50 million of taxpayers’ money wasted in compensation to train companies because of ministers’ incompetence.”

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