Railway passengers are to join train stations protest with union leaders and politicians to demand Government keeps Northern Rail under public control
- Northern Rail franchise officially taken away from Arriva Rail North this Sunday
- RMT said an upcoming review could move Northern back into the private sector
- Officials will join politicians, passengers and campaigners at stations in North
Rail passenger groups, union leaders and politicians will protest today to demand the Government keeps Northern Rail under public control.
The franchise was officially taken away from Arriva Rail North yesterday after years of complaints about the poor level of service.
But the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said it believed a forthcoming review into how the railways are run could move Northern back into the private sector within weeks.
Rail passenger groups, union leaders and politicians will protest today to demand the Government keeps Northern Rail under public control (stock image)
RMT officials will join politicians, passengers and campaigners at stations across the North to send a ‘clear message’ that the private franchise model is ‘broken’ and should be replaced by an integrated, publicly owned railway.
The union’s Mick Cash said: ‘This has to be a permanent move followed up with the investment and planning needed to deliver the rail services that passengers deserve after years of privatised chaos.’
A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘The review is looking at reforms across the railway to ensure passengers are put first.’
The franchise was officially taken away from Arriva Rail North yesterday after years of complaints about the poor level of service (stock image)