TRAIN owners are fleecing the public purse, unions have warned, after reports that one paid out a dividend of £150m last year.

Company accounts show Porterbrook gave out the “eye-watering” sum to its parent company, Porterbrook Leasing.

The boss of the parent company also got a £200,000 pay rise to just under £1.4 million last year, the Mirror reported.

The Labour government has so far decided not to bring rolling stock companies — known as Roscos — back into public hands. 

The small group of firms rake in money from leasing carriages to train operating companies, which are being nationalised.

Aslef, the train drivers’ union, said: “The new Labour government is doing a great job bringing the passenger companies back into public ownership.

“Now, though, the government must turn its attention to the freight companies, and the Roscos, which are turning the taxpayer over big time.

“We have to get their snouts out of the public trough.”

TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: “The alarming and eye-watering profiteering demonstrated by these figures show that despite Labour doing the right thing and bringing train companies back under public control, the exploitation of our rail network is set to continue. 

“This comes at a time when passengers are really feeling the pinch and are being asked to swallow another fare hike. 

“Ministers must now consider the long-term public good and get Roscos and freight back in public hands.”

A Porterbrook spokesperson said: “Porterbrook is able to invest and innovate for the future of the railway because of the funding that our shareholders provide, and in the normal course of business, when appropriate, dividends are paid.”