MPs condemn Government rail plans It has triggered opposition from unions and MPs including two former Liberal Democrat leaders, Menzies Campbell and Charles Kennedy. They have urged the Government to run the service as a "public service" with "affordable fares and proper staffing levels." Mick Whelan, the general secretary of the train drivers" union, Aslef, recalled Philip Hammond, the previous Transport Secretary, warning that trains were in danger of becoming a "rich man's toy." Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union, added: "The scandal of rail privatisation, which has bled billions in private profit out of our transport system for the last two decades, not only continues but is set to worsen under the plans laid out in the government's McNulty Rail Review." Supporters of the motion seized on research which, they said, showed a dramatic reduction in investment in stations and infrastructure such as signalling and cabling from £845 million in 2006-7 to £376 million. However Theresa Villiers, the rail minister, defended the Government's handling of the industry. "Our plans are to reduce the cost of running the railway by £3.5bn per annum by 2019," she said. If we can do this, we can reduce the burden on taxpayers, and put an end to the era of above-inflation increases in average regulated fares. The plans place the passenger at the heart of everything the rail network is about. We want to see Britain's railways continue to prosper and we have made clear our commitment to them. To address crowding, cut journey times, and improve the passenger experience, we are funding thousands of new carriages across the country, electrifying swathes of the rail network, and redeveloping many of our great railway stations.