Foreign grip tightens on UK rail operations

RAIL UNION RMT revealed today that the takeover of the West Coast Mainline by a joint operation of Italian state operator Trenitalia and First Group means that nearly 80% of the UK rail network will soon be in foreign hands.

The West Coast announcement means that a grand total of 78.6% of the UK network ‎will be overseas controlled, with the inclusion of the Abellio takeover of East Midlands Railways, by the end of the year. (Full table below)


RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;


“Under the Tories any state can run our railways other than the British state. It is a scandal and means that British passengers are directly subsidising rail operations across Europe and beyond as profits are shipped overseas starving the UK of desperately needed investment.


“The only solution to this racket is public ownership and it's now no longer a question of if, it's a question of when.”