Rail unions have launched a challenge against the government's plans to reprivatise the East Coast Mainline.

The RMT, Aslef and TSSA have joined forces to seek a judicial review into the proposals, stating they believed ministers were trying to rush through the announcement of the new franchise before the next election. They claimed members' jobs and conditions were at risk, as well as the interests of passengers and taxpayers.

According to the unions, the government has ignored a recommendation by the Brown review of rail franchising that the procurement process should take place over a period of at least two years. However, ministers have stated the privatisation of East Coast will be conducted over 15 months. 

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes commented; "Rail workers are at a loss to understand why the government insists on going forward with a broken system which threatens the interests of passengers and taxpayers."

Ministers from the Department for Transport have promised to 'vigorously defend' the claims made by the unions and stated it remains committed to the franchise model.