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A member of the Bring Back British Rail group, campaigns outside Glasgow's Central Station where she was joined by union members and TSSA volunteers calling for public ownership of railways
THE era of privatisation is “null and void” after Covid-19, rail unions have said, after a report today laid bare the pandemic’s effect on the industry’s finances.
The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) and Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) said that the annual Office of Rail and Road (ORR) report shows the need for public ownership of Britain’s railways, pointing to the massive increase in government funding up to April 2020.
ORR figures for 2019-20 showed the cost of the industry was £20.2 billion, which was funded through fares and other passenger income (£11.6bn), government (£6.5bn) and other sources (£2.0bn).
The HS2 debacle exposes what happens when public infrastructure is handed to private contractors – especially when set against China’s state-led high-speed rail success, says CARLOS MARTINEZ
A just transition to Great British Railways and a clean and safe railway for all is not only desirable but also necessary. MARYAM ESLAMDOUST explains
