RAIL UNION RMT today slammed reports that the government are considering accepting a £100 million sweetener from rail operator Stagecoach in return for a back door deal which would give the company control of National Express’s rail franchises at East Anglia and C2C. The public takeover of National Express’s failed East Coast Main Line operation is expected within the next few weeks when the company defaults on payments on the £1.4 billion franchise.

Stagecoach are seeking to mop up National Express’s rail operations as part of current takeover talks for the company involving the CVC-Cosmen consortium. Under cross default rules National Express would automatically lose their C2C and East Anglia franchises when they default on the East Coast Main Line and RMT are arguing that the default should apply equally to any company looking to take over National Express rail services.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said:

“RMT is alarmed at reports that some sort of deal involving bundles of cash in sweeteners is under discussion with Stagecoach which would drive a coach and horses through the cross default conditions on rail franchises.

“RMT is demanding clear assurances from government that when National Express East Coast defaults at some point over the next few weeks, both that franchise and C2C and East Anglia will be taken into public ownership. No delays, no back door deals, just immediate renationalisation.

“For staff and passengers a Stagecoach takevover of National Express rail services would be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire. Stagecoach have previous as long as your arm when it comes to attacks on jobs, services and union organisation.

“We will be raising this issue, along with the whole question of franchising and rail privatisation, at the TUC in Liverpool next week and we will be meeting Transport Secretary Lord Adonis to seek urgent clarification on the future of the National Express franchises and the regulations on the off-loading of services by the train operating companies.”

07 September 2009