25 August 2026
RMT Press Office:
The UK’s largest rail union RMT called for a cost-of-living levy on the profits of train rolling stock leasing companies (ROSCO’s) as new figures reveal that dividends have more than trebled.
Eversholt which owns much of the UK’s rail rolling stock has recently announced that it has paid a dividend of £200 million, up from £60 million the previous year.
Combined with the £111 million dividends already announced by another train owner, Angel, the profits could pay for a 2.5 per cent fare cut. A third ROSCO Porterbrook is yet to announce its dividends.
RMT general secretary said that Andy Burnham was right to say that we must have greater public control of the essentials in life.
“This must mean taking action to rein in the profits of the offshored corporate giants who own our trains.
“A 100 per cent cost of living levy on this year’s profits would be the equivalent of a 2.5 per cent fare cut and would provide immediate relief for passengers.
“It would also be a step toward stopping the corporate raiding of our rail system, controlling costs and ultimately nationalising our rolling stock as part of an integrated publicly owned railway.
“We will be campaigning for this position through amendments to the Great British Railways Bill when the legislation begins in the lords after summer recess and this will be a key union demand in the forthcoming budget,” he said.
ENDS
PHOTO: By PeterSkuce - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56221504
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Tagged with: RMT, Eddie Dempsey, ROSCO's, Rolling Stock Companies,
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