The Secretary of State for Transport has today announced a series of sanctions on failing rail franchise First Great Western (FGW), which has breached its franchise agreement and been issued with a Remedial Plan Notice for its service failures, and a Breach Notice for misreporting its cancellations.

John McDonnell, RMT Parliamentary Convenor and MP for Hayes & Harlington, said:

"The measures announced today won't resolve the problem. The only solution is for this franchise to be brought back into public ownership.

"If we can nationalise failing banks, we can nationalise failing rail franchises."

David Drew, MP for Stroud, said:

"I'm really pleased that the Government is taking steps against this franchise, but actions must follow words. I praise the RMT Parliamentary Group and the union for representing the voice of commuters and the local community and we must now step up the campaign for public ownership."

-Ends-

RMT Parliamentary Group office: 020 7219 1626

The RMT Parliamentary Group has led calls in Parliament for the service to be taken back into public ownership, and has tabled EDM 546 'FGW Rail services':

That this House notes with continuing concern the performance of First Great Western rail services; is alarmed that the new December 2007 timetable will see the replacement of exisiting rolling stock with inferior rolling stock which could result in slower, less comfortable and more crowded conditions for passengers; and calls on the Government to intervene urgently to protect the interests of passengers and to conduct an urgent and public review to determine whether the interests of passengers would be better served by bringing the franchise back into public ownership.

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34687&SESSION=891