East Coast Mainline debate

The current government agrees with Maria Eagle's Labour predecessors who were always completely clear that taking East Coast into public ownership was only ever a temporary measure.

Like them, we recognise that franchising has delivered huge benefits to rail travellers, with passenger numbers doubling and major improvements in safety.

With £240 million allocated for investment in infrastructure improvements on the East Coast line, as well as a fleet of new long distance trains, it is now the right time for an innovative private sector partner to be introduced to capitalise on these opportunities and maximise the benefits for passengers.

The Labour Party needs to tell people whether they still believe in franchising or whether they would like to take our railways back to the dark days of British Rail."

"Ministers must keep East Coast on track by abandoning this unnecessary and costly privatisation. Since being run on a not for private profit basis, East Coast services have improved and more than £800million has been returned to tax-payers in contrast to the two previous failed private operators.

"Labour MPs have forced this parliamentary debate to speak up for East Coast passengers and raise our concerns about the likely consequences of this misguided privatisation. We will be stepping up our campaign over the coming weeks and urge all passengers to back our efforts to keep the East Coast on track."