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Graham Lucas, Westcliff-on-Sea

21st July 2013 | Your Views

Privatisation was the worst thing that ever happened to the railways.

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Your Views

  • I’ve long felt that selling off national assets was a short-term, short-sighted approach which of course benefits private companies more than the British public.

    Stuart Legg, Leeds

  • It’s time for people to take the railways back.

    Darren Burling, Chester

  • The people who control such integral infrastructure in the country must answer directly to the people.

    Christian Cox, Chichester

  • I’m fed up with being half an hour late every day. The Southern main line needs massive investment. SWT have made it clear they won’t do it. Maybe BR would.

    Simon Wragg, Brockenhurst

  • There’s a reason why it is called a ‘natural monopoly.’

    Chris Davison, Diss

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Bring Back British Rail
1 week ago

📢 The 3rd Reading of the #RailwaysBill will now take place this 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝟭𝟬 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 🚆 Don't miss your chance to email your MP and ask them to back crucial amendments to ensure that our new publicly-owned Great British Railways always puts passengers' rights before private profit 👇 @top fans ... See MoreSee Less

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Railways Bill: Demand your MP protect passengers' rights and our environment

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The Railways Bill must protect passengers' rights and our environment
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Bring Back British Rail
2 weeks ago

📢 Last chance to take action! The #RailwaysBill which will establish Great British Railways get its 3rd Reading in the Commons this 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝟯 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 🚆 Please email your MP to ask them to back our amendments ensuring passengers' rights are always put before private profit 👇 @top fans ... See MoreSee Less

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Railways Bill: Demand your MP protect passengers' rights and our environment

weownit.org.uk

The Railways Bill must protect passengers' rights and our environment
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Bring Back British Rail
2 weeks ago

Good Riddance Govia! 🚆 We’re celebrating Thameslink, Southern Railway & Great Northern finally back in public ownership today 👏 This marks the end of a decade long fight begun by our friends the Association of British Commuters during the #SouthernFail crisis in 2016. Read more here: bringbackbritishrail.org/news @top fans ... See MoreSee Less

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Bring Back British Rail
3 weeks ago

Please take action before Weds 3 June! 👇 @top fans
📧 weownit.org.uk/act-now/protect-passengers-rights🚨The Railways Bill comes back to parliament on 3rd June

This bill was supposed to "put people at the heart of our railway" - but it does not

We've worked with MPs on amendments to ensure the bill puts passengers before profit

Ask your MP to back these key amendments: weownit.org.uk/act-now/protect-passengers-rights ... See MoreSee Less

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Bring Back British Rail
2 months ago

It was great to support We Own It's Tug of War: Passengers vs Profiteers event outside Parliament this week 👏 We're raising awareness for the issues with the #RailwaysBill 🚆💸 Please email your MP to ask whose side they're on 👇 @top fans
📨 weownit.org.uk/passengers-not-profit ... See MoreSee Less

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    Our Supporters

    • In 1948 Labour nationalised rail to rebuild Britain after a world war. Today bankers and speculators use privatised trains for tax scams. Time to bring back British Rail.

      Alex Gordon, former RMT President

    • If the private companies that took over the national railways are cutting back and eroding services at a time when the climate crisis demands expanded low-carbon transportation alternatives to keep more of us out of planes, then these services too must be reclaimed.

      Naomi Klein, writer

    • East Coast shows us that publicly owned rail works better for passengers and taxpayers. We need a railway fit for the future – it’s got to be in public hands.

      Cat Hobbs, We Own It

    • The privatisation of the railways was a scandal that created an unworkable and expensive structure which should be replaced with a national unified network.

      Christian Wolmar, transport commentator

    • Privatisation is only progress, if you mean progressing towards an apocalypse of injustice. Bring back British Rail!

      Josie Long, comedian

    • Taking our railways back from private profiteers will mean better services, fairer rail fares and more than £1 billion a year in savings for the public purse.

      Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP

    • Privatisation has delivered… a system in which train operators and energy firms compete not on service – but on how many tariffs they can bamboozle customers with.

      Aditya Chakrabortty, The Guardian

    • At its heart privatisation in Britain was never about selling public networks but about selling the rights to tax those who are obliged to use them.

      James Meek, writer

    • Let’s make the case for democratic social ownership, fit for the 21st century, ensuring our railways are run in the interests of passengers, not profiteers.

      Owen Jones, writer

    • There is no good excuse left for rail privatisation beyond enriching wealthy elites. Public ownership delivers for social and environmental needs over private profit.

      Professor Andrew Cumbers, University of Glasgow

    • Transport is an essential public service and ought to be publicly owned and publicly controlled. We need an enormous expansion in the investment in our railways and that is the best way of achieving it.

      Tony Benn, politician

    • Research into privatisation… boils down to one key finding: the only way Branson and the vast majority of train barons make their profits is through handouts from the taxpayer.

      Aditya Chakrabortty, The Guardian

    • Like most people in Britain, I think that a railway is a natural function of the state, and so ought to be run by the state – for the sake of coherence, transparency, continuity, accountability and national pride.

      Andrew Martin, writer

    • The UK public wants a publicly owned railway, and so do we. Lush calls for an end to the failed experiment of privatising essential services.

      Tamsin Omond, Lush Campaigns

    • To be able to reduce C02 emissions, by persuading people to leave cars at home, we need a fast, efficient subsidised railway system that’s run for people not profit!

      Ellie Harrison, campaign founder

    • Privatisation of the railways has failed. Its time to make a virtue of public ownership, and the public service provided by state employees.

      Charles Secrett, The ACT! Alliance

    • Only a publicly owned railway can deliver affordable fares, good services, high customer satisfaction, properly staffed stations and a profitable return to the public purse.

      Charles Secrett, The ACT! Alliance

    • Now is the moment to re-nationalise the railways and it has never been cheaper or more possible.

      Andrew Gilligan, journalist

    • A good public transport system should be the foundation of a fair, just, happy, low-carbon world.

      Ellie Harrison, campaign founder

    • Something as important and necessary (and enjoyable) as train travel should be in the hands of the people, be affordable and safe, not making money for shareholders.

      Nina Power, writer

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    Bring Back British Rail is coordinated from Glasgow by Ellie Harrison, with the help of a small network of volunteers around the UK.
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    It aims to be a completely autonomous and transparent passenger-led organisation, which has no direct affiliation with any political parties.
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