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Protests to call for public East Coast

Rail campaigners are planning nationwide demonstrations demanding that East Coast Main Line rail services remain in public ownership.

Rail campaigners are planning nationwide demonstrations demanding that East Coast Main Line rail services remain in public ownership.

The protests on Friday will coincide with the start of the Liberal Democrats spring conference in York.

Action for Rail and other campaign groups will be calling on Liberal Democrat MPs to keep the East Coast in public hands and oppose Tory plans for privatisation.

East Coast Main Line was taken into public ownership after its privateer owners proved incapable of operating the service.

Under public ownership passenger satisfaction rates for the service have soared and are among the highest for train operating firms across Europe.

The service has contributed around £800m to the Treasury, and since 2011 has received 35 industry awards.

Demonstrations will take place on Friday at stations along the East Coast route from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh as follows: Berwick 8am-10am, Doncaster 7.30am-9am, Durham 8am-9am, Edinburgh Waverly 7am-9am, Hull 4.30pm-5.30pm, Keighley 5.30pm-6.30pm, Kings Cross 7.30am-9am, Newark time to be confirmed, Newcastle 8am-9am, Peterborough 7.30am-8.30am, Peterborough 7.30am-8.30am, Stevenage 8am-9am, York 1pm-2pm.

Campaigners will hand out "action cards" to spread public support for the campaign and in York they will lobby Liberal Democrat MPs.

The Lib Dem conference will also be targeted by a major protest on Saturday. Thousands are expected at the Better Way march organised by Yorkshire and Humber region of the TUC.

The event is being backed by unions and campaign groups across the region.

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