TRAIN drivers’ union Aslef insisted the Labour government “must go further” in renationalising rail as it opened its conference today.

Aslef’s executive committee president Dave Calfe celebrated the Tories’ election loss, saying “the electorate did what was humane and put them out of their misery.”

“But over the next four years the Labour government must deliver for working people, including within our industry,” he said.

“We welcome the renationalisation this year of South Western Railways, C2C and Greater Anglia which, along with the operator of last resort’s four companies —  London North Eastern Railway, Northern Trains, Southeastern and TransPennine Express — account for 50 per cent back in public ownership by October this year.

“But we still must go further. In administrations with devolved responsibility for rail, train services must be directly controlled, as they are in Scotland and Wales.

“If some of the renationalised companies were devolved and control transferred, they could end up reprivatised.

“We need to change the funding model for rolling stock. The report commissioned by Aslef, A Public Vision for Financing Scotland’s Railways, showed a 40 per cent saving on investment by procuring trains via green bonds and not the current system of rolling stock companies, where 25 per cent of ticket sales represent the [these firm’s] charges.

“All public money invested in rail should stay within the industry and not be siphoned off to tax-free havens.”

Mr Calfe also highlighted the union’s Dignity for Drivers campaign calling for a maximum of four hours on duty before a toilet break.

He added: “We have to be very clear that the days of train drivers using newspapers, drinks bottles and even lunch boxes as toilets is not acceptable — now, or in the future.”

Mr Calfe warned that the union would take action if insufficient progress is made.