Three chief executives of British train-leasing firms earned a combined £3.5m last year while their companies distributed nearly £400m in shareholder dividends, according to The Guardian.
The rolling stock companies, known as Roscos, lease trains to Britain's railway operators. Rail unions have accused these firms of profiting at passengers' expense.
The executive pay and dividend payouts occur against a backdrop of ongoing disputes over rail funding and ticket prices. The unions' criticism suggests they view the companies' returns to shareholders as disproportionate given the public's reliance on rail services and the role these firms play in the transport infrastructure.
The source material does not name the three companies, identify the executives, specify their individual pay packages, or detail which railways these firms supply. The unions' specific allegations and the companies' response, if any, remain unattributed beyond the general accusation of profiting at passengers' expense.