A RAIL privateer has been slammed by the Advertising Standards Authority today for implying that its operation is publicly owned.

The ads watchdog has ruled that a Great Western Railway poster stating “the railway belongs to the region it serves” is misleading and breaches advertising standards.

The privateer, part of international company FirstGroup, was described as “just another bunch of corporate spivs looking to milk our railways for every penny that they can” by the leader of Britain’s biggest rail union.

Complainants included campaign groups We Own It, whose slogan is: “Public services for people — not profit,” and Common Capital, which promotes common ownership. They argued the was a blatant attempt to cash in on widespread support for rail renationalisation.

Dan Gregory of Common Capital, said: “Many of us feel very strongly that the railways should be in public hands.

“The fact that a private franchise is trying to score points by pretending to be something it isn’t shows the urgent need for us to take seriously these models of common ownership.”

We Own It’s Cat Hobbs said the ad indicates that privatisation has become “so unpopular” that train companies are attempting to garner good PR by pretending services are publicly owned.

She pointed out that research has shown that two-thirds of the public want railways to be publicly owned and that the advert is “a sign that it’s time for real public ownership.”

RMT rail union general secretary Mick Cash said: “It is frankly disgusting that the privatised Great Western Railways have tried to kid people that they are somehow publicly owned, when in fact they are just another bunch of corporate spivs looking to milk our railways for every penny that they can.

“The truth is that the private rail companies know that they are deeply unpopular for good reason, and the fact that they have been pulled up by the Advertising Standards Authority for this outrageous stunt is good news.

“RMT will continue to fight for real public ownership of the railways that sweeps away this whole rotten profiteering system.”

Travellers heading to Cornwall for the Easter weekend on a Great Western Railway train were so crowded that transport police had to intervene.

Some passengers on Good Friday’s 10am train from Paddington to Penzance were asked by staff to disembark at Plymouth for “comfort and safety” reasons.

Police had to persuade indignant ticket-holders to get off the train and wait for a replacement.