“BANDIT CAPITALISTS” are preparing to wreak havoc on Britain’s railways, rail union RMT said today amid reports that US shareholders are pushing major franchiser First Group to bail out of the British market. 

The RMT said that First, a core player on Britain’s railways, is being ordered by US corporation Coast Capital to pull out of TransPennine Express, Great Western Railway, South Western Railway and Hull Trains.

Coast, which own 10 per cent of First Group, is reportedly attempting to replace the company’s board with its own nominees.