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Government to run rail franchise from December

One of the country’s biggest rail franchises will come under public ownership on 12 December, with a new name and upgraded uniform for staff.

National Express is handing back the East Coast main line business after running up huge losses earlier in the year.

Ministers do not expect the franchise to be re-let to the private sector until mid-2011.

The date means the franchise will be run by the Government for at least 18 months, several months longer than originally expected.

The new publicly-owned company will take over services on 12 December and will be called East Coast Main Line, according to the presentation.

National Express logos at stations and on trains will be removed or covered, union officials were told.

Rolling stock will be rebranded East Coast “as cost effectively and as soon as practicable”, according to the Government.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, said: “Now that the Government have set out a clear timetable for renationalising the East Coast main line from December 12, RMT is demanding an absolute assurance that this will be a permanent move that recognises the chaotic failures of privatisation on this prestige route on the UK rail network.

“We also want a clear recognition of the hard work and dedication of staff who have kept the East Coast main line running throughout the privatisation fiasco and an assurance that there will be no attacks on their benefits or working conditions.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .