Mary Creagh MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, responding to the announcement of a new directly awarded franchise agreement for the South Eastern rail franchise, said:

“Long suffering Southeastern passengers, whose franchise is rated the worst in the country, face four more years of misery because of Tory incompetence on rail franchising, which has already cost taxpayers more than £50 million.

“This franchise extension stands in stark contrast to David Cameron’s rush to sell off the East Coast line, run by a not-for-profit public operator which will have returned over £1 billion to the taxpayer by April 2015.

“Labour’s plan for the railways would tackle the cost-of-living crisis and drive the biggest reform of the railways since privatisation. Labour will cap rail fares, legislate for a public sector operator, devolve the running of regional and local services and deliver a railway which puts passengers first, not profits.”