Southeastern stripped of rail franchise and faces £25million fraud investigation

A RAIL company has been shunted into the sidings as it faces a £25million fraud investigation.

Southeastern was stripped of its franchise for failing to pay back taxpayer cash and concealing it in its accounts for seven years.

Southeastern was stripped of its franchise for failing to pay back taxpayer cash and concealing it in its accounts for seven years

Its services, between London, Kent and East Sussex and including the country’s first high-speed line, will be taken on by the Government.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the company had “breached the trust that is absolutely fundamental to the success of our railways”.

The operator’s chief financial operator Elodie Brian stepped down from her £335,000-a-year job as the scandal erupted.

The Serious Fraud Office said it was aware of the case.

The Sun can reveal a preliminary investigation has been launched.

Sources fear the missing cash could have been used to inflate profits.

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