The Train Drivers’ Union tried to bid for a franchise. specifically, the East coast main line, which was in the process of being privatised for a second time, after the previous franchise collapsed.
During its time as a nationalised service, run directly by the government, East Coast had done very well, improving punctuality and generating over £1billion in profits.
Naturally, the response of the Conservative government was to privatise it again as quickly as possible, as that sort of thing can’t possibly be allowed to be a success.
