‘Take back rail ownership’

Members of the Labour Party, Green Party, unions and climate change campaigners leaflet commuters outside Huddersfield railway station in a protest against the rise in rail fares PROTESTERS calling for nationalisation of the railways took their message to commuters at Huddersfield train station.

Members of Huddersfield TUC, the Labour Party, the Green Party and Kirklees Campaign Against Climate Change distributed postcards calling for the railways to be taken back into public ownership.

They urged travellers arriving at St George’s Square yesterday evening to send them to their MPs supporting such a move.

About 25 people took part in the protest, which was also in opposition to the latest hike in fares which has seen the price of rail tickets rise by an average of 2.3% this week.

Bob Stoker, secretary of Huddersfield TUC, who was among the protesters, said: “Generally, people we spoke to agreed that the railways should be in public ownership for the benefit of the people rather than wasting money in paying dividends to shareholders.

“People are concerned about what is happening to the railways – and the rip-off price rises. The protest was certainly worthwhile.”

Mr Stoker said public ownership of rail could deliver cheaper fares.

He added that taking back into public ownership those franchised services which are up for renewal this year could save around £1.5bn – which could fund a 10% cut in season tickets and other regulated fares from 2017.