PROTESTS have taken place over what critics claim is a £2bn ‘bail out’ of the East Coast rail franchise.

Last year the Government announced it was terminating the current contract held by Virgin Trains East Coast from 2020 – three years early – in order to replace it with a new public/private partnership.

The train operator, a partnership between Stagecoach and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, had pledged to pay £3.3bn with the bulk of the payments due in the final years of the franchise.

Protestors gathered at Kings’ Cross and at other rail stations around the country to call on Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to reverse his decision in order to stop the taxpayer picking up the tab.

Representatives from the RMT rail union also joined in the demonstrations.

The East Coast Mainline franchise was re-privatised in 2015 after six years previously in public ownership.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "There is no way the taxpayer should be picking up the tab for this latest East Coast scandal.

“The line should be taken back into public ownership."

Sir Richard has said intervention was necessary with he and partner Stagecoach losing more than £100m on the route and facing expensive train upgrade and investment commitments.