UNIONS and opposition politicians have criticised reports that the UK's only Government-run rail line is to be taken over by a consortium largely owned by the French state.
Speculation has grown that the London to Scotland East Coast Main Line is to be taken over by a new private franchise which will see the line, from next year, being run by bidders Eurostar and French transport company Keolis, which is 70 per cent owned by state-run French rail company SNCF.
Opponents of the move to re-privatise the East Coast Main Line said that the public sector-run company, which was set up by the Department for Transport in 2009, had made big returns to the Treasury during its tenure.
A win for Eurostar/Keolis would mean disappointment for the other two bidders: FirstGroup and a joint venture between Virgin Trains and transport company Stagecoach.
Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT union, said re-privatising the line was ludicrous and a national disgrace. He added: "This is pure industrial vandalism and the strong rumour that the French-state operator is in poll position to mop up this vital, strategic north/south route says it all.
"The Government is happy to have state ownership of our railways as long as it isn't by the British state."
Edinburgh East MP Sheila Gilmore, for Labour, said: "Ironically if the contract is awarded to Keolis - which is largely owned by the French government - ticket revenue may well be reinvested in improved services. Unfortunately these will be services between places like Paris and Lyon or Marseille and Monaco, rather than Edinburgh and London."
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