Unions fight to halt rail line sell-off

Rail unions today joined forces with local politicians in an effort to prevent South Eastern Trains, which operates some of the busiest commuter services, being sold to the private sector.

Gerry Doherty, leader of the Transport & Salaried Staffs Association, the rail industry's second largest union, said reprivatising the southeast routes would create a "Connex mark two".

SET carries 120,000 commuters a day from Kent, Sussex and south-east London into Charing Cross, Victoria and Cannon Street stations.

Connex lost the franchise 18 months ago for poor performance. Train operation was returned to public control while the Government searched for a new private sector owner.

Since Connex was sacked, say the unions, service has improved.

Mr Doherty will lead a conference in Ashford today where his call to keep SET in the public sector will be backed by Kent County Council's Labour opposition group and Labour MP Bob Marshall Andrews. Aslef and the RMT back the campaign.