Under privatisation, the railways have become a “rich man’s toy”. 20 years ago the Railways Act set in motion the process of selling off this public asset to companies who, we were assured, would provide a better service, lower costs for the taxpayer, and offer affordable fares to passengers.  But since then ticket prices have skyrocketed making them unaffordable to many people (with the most expensive train fares in Europe); public subsidies have snowballed as we continue to bankroll the rail infrastructure through Network Rail; and services have failed to live up to their much touted promise, with a dwindling investment in rolling stock and an overall cost to the taxpayer of £1.2 billion through fragmented services and poorly managed financing.

The neo-liberal myth that nationalisation doesn’t work must be challenged by Ed Miliband and the labour party. The award winning East Coast mainline is in public ownership and has returned massive profits to the taxpayer. Like Green MP, Caroline Lucas, who has put forward a private members bill for renationalisation, Ed Miliband and the Labour Party must show they are a party with the vision and courage to act in the public interest and not in the interests of the wealthy elite.

We, the undersigned, therefore call upon Ed Miliband and the Labour Party, to include in their upcoming election manifesto, a pledge to Renationalise the Rail Network.