"Priority number one must be for the government to tell GNER today that its plans to cut jobs across the franchise will not be allowed to proceed," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said.

"Sea Containers have defaulted on what was always an absurd franchise agreement and GNER's operations should taken back in-house to harnesss the revenue for the benefit of the whole industry.

"Sea Containers' disastrous tenure had destabilised a key part of Britain's railway network, and it makes no sense to continue handing them guaranteed, risk-free profits on a management-fee contract.

"Allowing Sea Containers to stay in charge for even one more day sends the signal to other privateers that if they get into financial difficulties they too will be bailed out with public money.

"The franchicing policy is now clearly in complete disarray and there should be an immediate moratorium on the process.

"Refranchising GNER would cost millions for the paperwork alone, and we would only end up with yet another privateer being handed a licence to drain public money out of the railway industry," Bob Crow said.