YORK'S TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT FOOT THE BILL FOR NATIONAL EXPRESS' FAILURES - KIRK

5.41.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 1st Jul 2009

Rail operator National Express should not be allowed to keep its profit making franchises if the taxpayer is to pick up the debt from their failed East Coast mainline service, says Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for York Outer, Madeleine Kirk.

"The loss of yet another rail operator in York is going to cause a lot of uncertainty for local people," Madeleine said. "It is completely unfair that the taxpayer here should then have to pick up the losses National Express has made on the East Coast mainline whilst the company is allowed to keep the profits from its other services."

"This episode shows yet again that the Government has to change the way it awards and operates rail franchises - something the Liberal Democrats and I have been calling for for many years.

"The action the Liberal Democrats on the council are taking to secure jobs in York and the surrounding villages is very encouraging. Local people should be assured that we will do all we can to protect these jobs and make sure York retains its historic link with the railway industry."

National Express also runs c2c and the Stansted Express (based in London), and National Express East Anglia.