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People take part in a protest organised by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) opposite Downing Street, London, over the proposed closure of railway station ticket offices. Picture date: Thursday August 31, 2023.
RAIL unions marked the 30th anniversary of the network’s privatisation today by issuing damning condemnations of rip-off fares, chaotic and unreliable services and the siphoning off of billions of pounds in taxpayers’ cash by profiteering privateers.
British Rail was broken up and sold off on November 5 1993 by the Conservative government of then prime minister John Major.
A new report by the RMT union revealed today that privatisation has led to at least £31 billion being “siphoned out” of the industry by privateers and “into the pockets of the shareholders of the host of companies that feed off what should be a vital public service.”
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
