All on board for public ownership - Day of action 19 August

Rail fares are rising again, faster than average earnings. Taxpayer subsidies are being diverted towards company profits and shareholders. Services are overcrowded and under-staffed. We need a new route map for our railways.

On 19 August campaigners will be protesting the fare rise at stations across the UK and calling for a publicly owned railway – to deliver a better deal for passengers and taxpayers. In Europe, publicly owned railways have lower fares, are more efficient, and profits are reinvested back into the service. Publicly owned East Coast Main Line is a success story, and in 2013/14 returned £216m to the UK Treasury.

For privatised rail services, it’s a different picture. We have the highest fares in Europe with profits extracted to pay shareholder dividends. In 2012/13 Northern Rail, Transpennine Express and Virgin alone paid almost £100m in dividends to shareholders after receiving over £1bn in public subsidy. Evidence shows that about £1bn per year is wasted due to privatisation, and if saved, this could fund an 18% cut in fares. 

What can you do to help

• Join us at stations around the country on 19 August to call for fair fares and public ownership of our railways. See the list of stations here to participate in one of the protests. 
• Please email your MP and ask them to support our call for an affordable railway under public ownership that puts people before profit

www.actionforrail.org