Open access firms labelled ‘parasites’ by union leaders

Open access operators are parasitical and cut passenger choice, two rail union leaders told the House of Commons Transport Select Committee on May 14.

At a further session to scrutinise the Department for Transport’s draft rail reform bill, which aims to create Great British Railways to oversee the network and its operators, ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan responded to questions about open access operators by saying: “They have a captive audience from the certain location they go from and the main line railways tend not to run any more trains there because there is less choice.

"You either go by Grand Central, or you go by Hull Trains.”