LUTON NORTH MP Kelvin Hopkins, a member of transport union RMT's Parliamentary Group, today tabled an Early Day Motion demanding that First Capital Connect be stripped of their Thameslink franchise with the service taken in-house and "run as a publicly-owned and accountable public service for the benefit of passengers, taxpayers and railway employees."
Tomorrow afternoon (3rd February) the House of Commons will hold an adjournment debate in which Kelvin Hopkins will be joined by other members of the RMT's Parliamentary Group in piling pressure on the Government to sack FCC and renationalise their franchise.
The Early Day Motion says:
"That this House notes the continued poor service on First Capital Connect and that consequently the company is in breach of its franchise agreement; is appalled that passengers have suffered this disruption whilst First Group's Chief Executive was paid over £1 million in 2009 and the company's profits have exceeded £800 million since rail privatisation; welcomes the fact that the Minister of State for Transport has confirmed that all options are on the table when considering the future of the franchise; and urges the government to take the franchise in-house and run it as a publicly-owned and accountable public service for the benefit of passengers, taxpayers and railway employees."
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
"The time for threatening First Group over their Thameslink franchise is over. Now it's time for the Government to act, sack the company and return their operations to direct public ownership.
"This is a company that has made £800 million in profits since privatisation and whose Chief Executive was paid over £1 million in 2009. Not only is their Thameslink service a disgrace but on their Scotrail franchise they are prepared to rip up the safety rules and kick the guards off their trains. They are a disgrace and the sooner the Government dumps them the better."
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