Campaigners protest fare rise and call for public ownership of rail

| August 19, 2014 | News | No Comments

Today, August 19, campaigners gathered at over 60 stations throughout the UK, from Southampton to Edinburgh, to protest the passenger fare rise and to call for the railways to be brought into public ownership. Members of rail unions, campaigning groups and others came together as the inflation figure used to calculate the annual rise in regulated rail fares was announced – a wage-busting inflation plus 1 per cent.

As we’ve blogged today, privatisation costs the taxpayer over £1bn a year, while public ownership could bring about much-needed investment and fund a fare reduction of 18 per cent. Campaigners spoke to passengers about the unaffordable fare rise and asked them to contact their MP to support an affordable railway under public ownership.

Well done to everyone who took action today. Why not help us keep up the pressure by emailing your MP! http://actionforrail.org/

Here is a selection of photos from today:

Campaigners at St Pancras and King's Cross stations for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at St Pancras and King’s Cross stations for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Leeds station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Leeds station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Sheffield station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Sheffield station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Newcastle station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Newcastle station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Carlisle station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Carlisle station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Southampton Central station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Southampton Central station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Ilford station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Ilford station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Wolverhampton station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners at Wolverhampton station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners craftwork at King's Cross station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership
Campaigners craftwork at King’s Cross station for 19 August day of action for fair fares and public ownership

Here are some examples from the media coverage of the day:

“People are being “increasingly squeezed” by rail fare hikes say TUC“, ITV News

“Why are UK rail fares so expensive?“, The Independent

“Train Passengers To Suffer Another Rail Fare Hike In 2015“, Huffington Post

“The people want nationalised rail, instead they get above inflation price rises“, Daily Mirror

“Rail Passenger Fares To Rise By 3.5% In 2015“, Sky News

“Rail fare hike: Britain vs rest of Europe“, Daily Telegraph

“Regulated rail fares to increase by 3.5% in 2015“, BBC News

“Misery for commuters as rail fares will rise by 5%“, The Independent

“UK rail fares to rise 3.5% in January“, Financial Times

“Rail fares to rise by average of 3.5% in January“, The Guardian

“Labour and transport campaigners step up rail fares fight as prices rise again“, The Guardian

“Rail passengers in south west face price hike“, Western Morning News

“Rail minister who said passengers pay ‘fair fares for a comfortable commute’ took the train to work just twice last year… while clocking up 6,000 miles in the car“, Daily Mail

“Campaigners fighting rail price increases“, Signal 1

“Protesters lobby rail commuters in Dewsbury as train fares set to rise by 3.5%“, Examiner

“South West rail commuters face fare rise as Plymouth to Exeter season ticket could cost £111 more“, Exeter Express and Echo

Action for Rail

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About The Author

Philip Hadley
Philip Hadley

Philip is a Policy & Campaigns Support Officer in the TUC's Organisation and Services Department, where he works on public services campaigns including Action for Rail and Speak Up For Justice.