Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood has handed a petition to the Government calling for the privatisation of East Coast rail services to be scrapped. The petition was signed by more than 25,000 passengers and was given to the Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.

The Government is planning to privatise the profit making service in 2015.

Lilian, who is also Shadow Rail Minisiter, said: “East Coast has gone from strength to strength since 2009 when it was brought back into public hands.   Passenger satisfaction is at record levels, all profits have been reinvested in the service and £600 million has been returned to the taxpayer already.

“It makes no sense to waste public money and government time on selling off East Coast instead of getting to grips with the cost of living crisis. David Cameron should now take note of this petition and cancel this ideologically-driven privatisation.”

The East Coast line connects London to the north east and Scotland via Newark and Retford.