AWARDING a key rail franchise to "hopeless" ScotRail firm Abellio is "yet another Grayling cock-up", ex-minister Mark Francois has said.
The Tory MP hit out in the Commons as politicians raised an urgent question about the East Midlands rail franchise.
On Wednesday it emerged that Perth transport firm Stagecoach – which owns 49% of current franchise holder Virgin Trains – had been disqualified from bidding for the next contract after offering a "non-compliant" bid.
The Department for Transport (DfT) disallowed three bids involving Stagecoach because they did not meet pension rules, also naming Dutch state-owned Abellio, which runs ScotRail, as its successor in the East Midlands.
READ MORE: Stagecoach rail franchise bids axed – spelling the end for Virgin trains
Today Francois slammed Westminster Transport Secretary Chris Grayling over the decision, claiming Abellio "don't give a monkey's" about passengers and bemoaning the standard of the service offered by the company to commuters elsewhere.
Transport minister Andrew Jones said Abellio provided the best bid, while Stagecoach "chose to put in a non-compliant bid which resulted in their disqualification".
He also dismissed SNP calls for Grayling to resign, replying: "Of course not, what a load complete nonsense."
Speaking during an urgent question in the Commons, Francois said: "Abellio are hopeless.
"The minister will recall an adjournment debate he had with a number of MPs a couple of months ago... from memory six or seven Essex Members of Parliament whose constituents suffer this company every day got up one after another to tell the minister how utterly useless this company is.
"We've been waiting for years for new trains from Abellio, and still they don't turn up.
"They're Dutch-Japanese owned and don't give a monkey's about the people they have as passengers.
"I'm sorry, this is a massive mistake and yet another Grayling cock-up."
Jones, who serves under Grayling, replied: "I do not agree with anything you have just said."
The Transport Secretary was nicknamed "failing Grayling" over a list of bungles, including the awarding of a £14 million post-Brexit ferry contract to a company with no ferries.
Last month the UK Government was forced to settle £33m in a court case with Eurotunnel over the “secretive” contract process.
Last year he denied bailing out Virgin Trains East Coast – which is 90% owned by Stagecoach – after ending its East Coast Mainline contract three years early.
READ MORE: Chris Grayling faces grilling over £33m Eurotunnel payout
That decision came after the rail firm complained of losing money on the Edinburgh-London operation.
In the Commons, Tory ex-Transport Secretary Sir Patrick McLoughlin told Jones he was "rather surprised at the late withdrawal or barring of Stagecoach", adding: "It seems to have come right at the end, and it is odd you say somehow they knew they were non-compliant.
"These franchises are not cheap bids to make, and they are very expensive for the company."
Referenced the state ownership of Abellio, he added: "Can I congratulate the government on widening state ownership of the railways, albeit other states?"
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