26 June 2019
RMT Press Office:
RMT repeats call for nationalisation as new poll reveals complete breakdown in trust between passengers and privatised rail companies
Rail union RMT has repeated its call for rail nationalisation as a new poll today reveals a complete breakdown in trust between passengers and privatised rail companies.
A poll of passengers who regularly use privatised rail services found that 73% think rail companies are more motivated by making a profit than providing passengers with a service or value for money.
Top of the list were Southern trains where only 6% of passengers thought their company was motivated by providing a good service for passengers, followed by Govia Thameslink on 8% and Northern 12%.
What do you think your rail company is most motivated by?
| Making a profit |
Delivering a good service for passengers |
Providing value for money |
Other |
|
| Southern |
90 % |
6 % |
2 % |
2 % |
| Govia Thameslink |
88 % |
8 % |
2 % |
2 % |
| Northern |
86 % |
12 % |
0 % |
2 % |
| Abellio Greater Anglia |
81 % |
11 % |
7 % |
0 % |
| Southeastern |
79 % |
15 % |
6 % |
0 % |
| Great Western Railway |
78 % |
16 % |
2 % |
4 % |
| South Western Railway |
75 % |
19 % |
4 % |
2 % |
| Great Northern |
73 % |
17 % |
8 % |
2 % |
| East Midlands Trains |
72 % |
20 % |
6 % |
2 % |
| First transpennine express |
71 % |
22 % |
6 % |
2 % |
| Chiltern |
70 % |
22 % |
4 % |
4 % |
| Virgin Trains West Coast |
70 % |
27 % |
2 % |
2 % |
| West Midlands Rail |
68 % |
22 % |
10 % |
0 % |
| Cross Country |
67 % |
23 % |
6 % |
4 % |
| ScotRail |
66 % |
25 % |
9 % |
0 % |
| Merseyrail |
65 % |
25 % |
8 % |
2 % |
| C2C |
64 % |
30 % |
6 % |
0 % |
| Transport for Wales |
55 % |
32 % |
11 % |
2 % |
| Making a profit |
Delivering a good service for passengers |
Providing value for money |
Other |
|
| Abellio Greater Anglia |
81 % |
11 % |
7 % |
0 % |
| C2C |
64 % |
30 % |
6 % |
0 % |
| Chiltern |
70 % |
22 % |
4 % |
4 % |
| Cross Country |
67 % |
23 % |
6 % |
4 % |
| East Midlands Trains |
72 % |
20 % |
6 % |
2 % |
| First transpennine express |
71 % |
22 % |
6 % |
2 % |
| Govia Thameslink |
88 % |
8 % |
2 % |
2 % |
| Great Northern |
73 % |
17 % |
8 % |
2 % |
| Great Western Railway |
78 % |
16 % |
2 % |
4 % |
| Merseyrail |
65 % |
25 % |
8 % |
2 % |
| Northern |
86 % |
12 % |
0 % |
2 % |
| ScotRail |
66 % |
25 % |
9 % |
0 % |
| South Western Railway |
75 % |
19 % |
4 % |
2 % |
| Southeastern |
79 % |
15 % |
6 % |
0 % |
| Southern |
90 % |
6 % |
2 % |
2 % |
| Transport for Wales |
55 % |
32 % |
11 % |
2 % |
| Virgin Trains West Coast |
70 % |
27 % |
2 % |
2 % |
| West Midlands Rail |
68 % |
22 % |
10 % |
0 % |
Speaking from RMT’s annual conference in Manchester RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;
“Advocates of rail privatisation claimed that the private sector would be more likely to provide a better service and be more responsive to passenger’s needs.
“This poll shows the exact opposite There is a complete breakdown in trust between service providers and service users. Passengers overwhelmingly believe their company is far more interested in making a quick buck than looking after the people who rely on their services.
“When the governments rail review reports in Autumn it must listen to passengers and return our railways to public ownership.”
Ends.
Notes for Editors
The poll was undertaken by Opinium of 993 passengers from 14th June to 21 June.
A full list of privatised franchise train operators is below. A separate poll is being undertaken for Transport for London services.
Unity House
Tel: 020 7387 4771
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