More UK passengers than ever are catching trains run by foreign governments, latest figures show.
Union leaders slammed the increase in overseas ownership as fares rise and services get worse.
Mick Cash, general secretary of rail union the RMT, said: “The UK rail network is being used as a cash cow by speculative state-owned outfits who see us as a money-making opportunity.”
The proportion of services under foreign ownership has doubled in a decade, with over 60 per cent now wholly or part owned by nationalised companies abroad.
Despite Government opposition to renationalisation, poor performance is forcing ministers to look at public ownership to save some companies from collapse.
The RMT survey shows eight countries now have a stake in the UK network. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is considering abolishing the franchise system and taking failing Northern Rail into temporary public ownership.
The Arriva-run service is owned by Deutsche Bahn, which cut fares by 10 per cent on its national network in Germany.
South Western Railway – 30 per cent owned by a state-owned Hong Kong company – is also facing renationalisation after bungled timetable changes, track works and industrial action.
UK train fares rose by an average of 2.7 per cent this month.
*Mr Cash said: “It’s a scandal the latest fare increases will be siphoned off in profits by overseas operators to cut fares and subsidise their domestic operations.”
■A TROUBLE-HIT £150million train fleet faces new complaints.
Carer Zena Morrison-Smith, 54, of Comberton, Cambs, had to sleep on the Caledonian Sleeper’s floor as she could not get up the steep, narrow ladder to her bunk.
She said: “It beggars belief how bad they are.” Passengers also moaned about lack of staff.
Operator Serco described the issues as teething problems.
