BRITAIN'S biggest rail union RMT today dismissed the Association of Train-Operating Companies report on franchise reform as an "insult" driven by greed.
Among its main recommendations the report called for franchises to be extended up to 20 years and for less Department for Transport and Network Rail involvement in overseeing and delivering improvements to services.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "This report is an insult to passengers who have been fleeced by fare hikes and cattle truck conditions. The real agenda here is to not a better railway but bigger profits.
"The train-operating companies have provided no evidence that longer franchises and less regulation will provide more investment and a better deal for passengers.
"The collapse of the East Coast Mainline franchise for a second time and the fact that only massive government subsidy are keeping other companies afloat shows that the franchising system is completely discredited.
"The train operating companies are completely out of touch with what passengers want. Our polling shows that 70 per cent of the public support not more privatisation but re-nationalisation of the railways.
"The government should bin this report and concentrate on creating a genuine People's Railway which puts passengers before profit," Bob Crow said.
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