Unions launch legal challenge to derail awarding of a new East Coast franchise

Rail unions today take legal action to challenge Government plans to re-privatise the East Coast service, currently run by a state-owned organisation.

The three unions – Aslef, RMT and TSSA – are seeking a judicial review of the DfT's decision to hold a rapid franchise competition for East Coast. East Coast was brought to the top of a new timetable drawn up following the West Coast fiasco, when a franchise award was overturned and an investigation found serious flaws in the process.

Unions argue that the East Coast bidding competition is being rushed through despite the recommendations of the Brown review of rail franchising that procurement should take at least 24 months. The unions say jobs and employment conditions, as well as passengers' and taxpayers' interests, are put at risk, and accuse the Government of breaching its commitment to conduct proper consultations.

The London-York-Edinburgh intercity service is run by Directly Operated Railways, which returns all profits to the state and has paid more than £600m in premiums to the Treasury since taking over in 2009, when National Express walked away from its franchise contract.

The DfT has shortlisted Keolis/Eurostar, First Group and Stagecoach/Virgin to submit detailed bids. Labour has pushed for the franchise to be left in state hands.

ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan said it was imperative to raise the genuine concerns of all stakeholders, including employees. "We cannot, in good conscience, allow the mistakes of the past to happen again."