Rail Revolution: Day of Action
11th December 2018 | Demonstration / Media Coverage / News
Sick of rising rail fares and chaotic commuting?
Tired of the endless tinkering with our broken privatised railway system?
It’s time for a #RailRevolution.
On Wednesday 2 January 2019, as our rail fares rise again by 3.1%, we’re joining forces with our friends at We Own It, the Association of British Commuters and NOR4NOR to organise a national day of action calling for radical reform.
Coinciding with the public consultation for the government’s new ‘root and branch’ review of rail: the Williams Rail Review, we’re calling on passengers all over the country to respond in favour of a re-unified national rail network run for people not profit.
On Wednesday 2 January 2019, protests will take place at stations across the country (see full list here), with a central one at London King’s Cross from 7:30-9:00am (photo call at 8:00am). See the Facebook event page for details, print a Bring Back British Rail placard and come join us!
Sign the Petition
Then on Friday 18 January 2019, to mark the deadline of the Williams Rail Review public consultation, we’ll be delivering our Care2 Petition to Re-nationalise our Railways signed by 118,039 people to the Department for Transport to demonstrate the sheer weight of public support for public ownership.
Make sure you add your name before then: bringbackbritishrail.org/care2
Media Coverage from 2 January 2019
• Furious passengers protest price hikes, Daily Mail
• Anger at ‘disgraceful’ rail fare rises as stations hit by protests, Sky News
• Chris Grayling blames unions for rail fare hike, BBC News
• Rail passengers stage ‘national day of action’ in protest at fare increases, Evening Standard
• Rail users to mount ‘national day of action’ over 3.1% fare rise, The Guardian
• Rail season tickets to jump by £100 for many commuters, Metro
• Train price hike: Jeremy Corbyn calls for public ownership of railways, Independent
• Rail fares rise 3.2% TODAY despite trains chaos, Mirror
• Protest in Birmingham over rising rail fares, Birmingham Live
• Protests at Sheffield railway station as rail fares rise by an average of 3.1 per cent, The Star
• York protest over national rail fare hike, The Press
Jeremy Vine on bringing back British Rail
20th September 2018 | Media Coverage / News
Following the Office of Rail and Road finding that ‘systemic failings’ have been the cause of the huge problems with new timetables on the Northern and Govia Thameslink Railway franchises, Ellie Harrison was invited to address the question ‘should we bring back British Rail?’ on BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine show.
‘Privatised rail just doesn’t work’ – Ellie Harrison
20th September 2018 | Media Coverage / News
Bring Back British Rail campaign founder Ellie Harrison was interviewed by Johanna Ross for Sputnik News, following Chris Grayling’s acknowledgement that ‘systemic failings’ are the cause of the many problems on our privatised rail network. Isn’t that what we’ve been saying for the last nine years?
Success! Or is it?
1st June 2018 | Fundraising / Media Coverage / News
On 16 May 2018, one month after we launched our Crowd Justice campaign to take Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to court over his handling of the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise fiasco, it was announced in the media that the route would be ‘re-nationalised’, as LNER (London North Eastern Railway) from 24 June 2018.
Success! Or is it? It later emerged that the new LNER franchise (unlike ‘East Coast’, which ran the line from 2009-15 and was wholly publicly-owned by the Department for Transport), would be run by a consortium of private companies: Arup, Ernst & Young and SNC-Lavalin.
Our legal action continues. Our lawyers have now written to Government for a forth time: to request further information about the new LNER arrangement, as well as the ongoing review of the suitability of Stagecoach and Virgin to retain their franchise ‘Passports’, given the dramatic failure of their Virgin Trains East Coast operation after just three years.
Thanks to all 907 people who have so far pledged support on Crowd Justice. Together we have already had a huge impact on events. Please continue to join this historic action.
Pledge and share our case page today: crowdjustice.com/case/eastcoast
Our Lawyers’ Letters
• 5 March 2018: Leigh Day to Department for Transport
• 16 April 2018: Leigh Day to Department for Transport (Pre-Action Protocol)
• 15 May 2018: Leigh Day to Government Legal Department
• 1 June 2018: Leigh Day to Government Legal Department
• 17 July 2018: Leigh Day to Government Legal Department
Our Case in the News
• 18 April 2018: The Canary (Interview with Ellie Harrison of Bring Back British Rail)
• 19 April 2018: BBC News
• 19 April 2018: ITV News
• 19 April 2018: City AM
• 16 May 2018: Financial Times
Help us take Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to court!
17th April 2018 | Fundraising / News
Enough is enough! Our East Coast mainline was a brilliant success in public-ownership and should never have been re-privatised in 2015. Now it has failed for the third time at the hands of private operators: GNER in 2007, National Express in 2009 and now Virgin Trains East Coast in 2018.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has admitted that Virgin Trains East Coast “got its numbers wrong” and breached “a key financial covenant” in their franchise agreement. Yet, he is allowing its owners – Stagecoach and Virgin – to walk away and continue running and bidding for other rail franchises. We can’t let them get away with this.
We’re now working with public law experts Leigh Day to bring Chris Grayling to court to account for these decisions. We expect this to be a landmark Judicial Review case; exposing the farce of rail franchising for the shameful waste of public money that it is, and paving the way to a re-unified national rail network run in the public’s interest once again.
Please pledge and share today: crowdjustice.com/case/eastcoast
Please help us reach more people by sharing on Facebook or Twitter!
Commemorating 70 years since Nationalisation
29th March 2018 | Merchandise / News
New Embroidered Patches available for 2018!
2018 year is bittersweet. We’re commemorating 70 years since our railways were unified and nationalised as ‘British Railways‘, as well commiserating 25 years since the disastrous 1993 Railways Act, which paved the way to the fragmented mess of privatisation that we have now.
These contrasting anniversaries show that times can, and do, change. In the last nine years since our campaign was founded in July 2009, we have been central in transforming the national debate, taking the re-nationalisation of our railways from a taboo topic to mainstream policy. Now we’re sure it’s only a matter of time until we realise our dream.
Make East Coast Public!
1st February 2018 | News / Petition
The Virgin Trains East Coast rail franchise is close to collapse, making it the third private sector operator, after GNER in 2007 and National Express in 2009, to fail.
We’re working with our friends at We Own It and many other partners to campaign for our East Coast mainline to be brought back into public ownership, permanently.
Please sign the petition here: weownit.org.uk/east-coast
Stop Privatisation Merchandise
28th November 2017 | Merchandise / News
This Christmas we’re working with Teemill on some new Bring Back British Rail merchandise, available as jumpers, hoodies, t-shirts, tote bags and tea towels! All ethically sourced organic cotton with proceeds going to support our volunteer-run campaign for rail re-nationalisation founded in 2009.
Order at: bringbackbritishrail.teemill.com
With free delivery if you order by midnight on Sunday 3 December 2017
A Public Future for Scotland’s Railways
21st November 2017 | News
This summer Bring Back British Rail contributed ideas to this new Report by TSSA and Commonweal as part of our ongoing campaign for the Public Ownership of Scotland’s Railway launched in September 2014.
Please support the Report Launch on Tuesday 28 November 2017, 11am-1pm
Serenity Cafe Meeting Room
8 Jacksons Entry
Edinburgh
EH8 8PJ
Don’t Scrap the Electrification of our Railways!
12th October 2017 | News
This summer, the Department for Transport scrapped plans to electrify railways across South Wales and the north of England, meaning we’ll be stuck with filthy diesel trains for years to come.
Bring Back British Rail supports our friends at 10:10 Climate Action and Campaign for Better Transport in demanding investment in cleaner, greener public transport.
Bring Back British Rail added a new photo.
2 weeks ago
‘British Rail was finally getting its act together when the ill-conceived 1993 Railways Act was foisted upon them’ says Bring Back British Rail Supporter John Maris, Norwich. Join us at: bringbackbritishrail.org ...
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Just before privatisation this country probably had the best railway it had ever had in terms of the essential balance which always has to be struck between the quality of the service and the cost to the taxpayer and fare payer. Ex BR chairman Peter Parker had a good joke about it. "There is good news and bad news about railway privatisation. The good news is that there are now only 25 people in the country who think privatisation is a good idea. The bad news is, it's the Cabinet."
British Rail was a calf fattened up for slaughter. The whole process was based on lies and ignorance. We were sold down the river on through-ticketing as there are now companies that only accept their own fares, thereby demanding complex purchases over long journeys. And I'll not forget the stupid old woman who, on a journey delayed by vandalism, announced loudly that such things wouldn't happen after privatisation.
Once we leave the EU we can nationalise the Railways call it British Rail. And a Casey Jones burger bar at Liverpool Street Station
Ripped the guts from the industry thanks John Major
British Rail was very cute at spending its money wisely. Since privatisation billions has been wasted in bad management. An example is train control; following the Hidden Report into the Clapham (preprivatisation) the Thatcher government said it would pay for all recommendations contained in the report. One such recommendation, which wouldn’t have prevented the accident, was the development and fitment of a train control system to prevent trains passing signals at danger. BR trialled 2 systems, the one fitted on the GW main line was better. BR went back to the government who refused to pay for it! Not for turning eh! Roll forward to after Ladbroke Grove, Southall and other post privatisation disasters caused by the loss of safety culture on privatisation, train safety once more hit the headlines. Raitrack, in a knee jerk reaction to press pressure, opted for the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS). In order to get funding RT massaged the figures to get the cost under the £1.3million per fatality save threshold. The project, which does not provide a failsafe solution, went 13 times over budget (ORR figures). With the money wasted on TPWS the GW ATP system could have been fitted on all main lines.
British Rail was deliberately run down by the Tories in the 80s to facilitate privatisation. Let's not pretend BR was great then, it wasn't. It was deliberately sabotaged.
think how good it could have been with the money that's given to the private, mainly foreign, companies.
It was fully working well when Dr Beeching was tasked with it's destruction and paid £30,000 for the pleasure
Beeching was in the BR era. If we bring it back we need to ensure no repetition occurs
As a company British rail had credibility and were doing the best they could. I work in the current rail industry and it's an embarrassment
Didn't matter what BR did, they were getting flogged off quick before Labour got in
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Bring Back British Rail added a new photo — with We Own It and 2 others.
3 weeks ago
We all want British Rail! We took our Care2 petition with more than 120,000 signatures to the Department for Transport earlier this month to demand public-ownership is properly considered in the #WilliamsRailReview. Add your name here: care2.com/renationaliserailways ...
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Grayling has got to be THE most inept, self-serving, impotent and utterly clueless minister there is, and let's face it - he's up against some pretty stiff competition. BBBR!
Failing Grayling won't go against Tory paymasters and lobbyists
Given it's cheaper to FLY from Newcastle to London than it is to catch the train down from Carlisle (where I live)... yes. Renationalisation is needed.
Whatever the Spivs say.... British Rail WAS better than this...
I wish you luck here but sense the petition will be ignored. Directly contrary to the Tory dogma that saw privatisation in the first place.
From a freight perspective the railway should never have been privatised! It had enough competition from a pro road government policy as it was! And still is!
Who remembers Sir Bob Reid (2)'s 1992 warning that privatisation could break the railways? I'm able to download them. He was right but the warnings were ignored by Major and MacGregor.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grayling_%28species%29 This grayling would do a better job, yes?
A return from Budapest to Szolnok (1.5 hour journey), costs £10..... return from Birmingham to Manchester.....around £40! There is no excuse!!
I can't wait to see what sort of fiasco HS2 turns out to be when/if it finally gets built.
More brown envelopes in privatisation than nationalisation
That's a shocking looking train. Looks like a kia pride
I'm not actually bothered what it's called - I just want a public transport system that IS public, i.e. owned by the public sector and answerable to us. Could be municipally-owned (best suited for local bus services), regionally owned (e.g. by Llywodraeth Cymru , Riaghaltas na h-Alba etc) (suitable for commuter train services and inter-city bus links), nationally owned (probably the best bet for most of the UK rail network or EU-owned (if we're still in it - definitely the best bet for the likes of Eurostar).
No we DONT !!!
I used to catch my train 30 minutes early because of constantly late or cancelled trains by southern fail, and. Oh yes, 30 mins late going home. That was a GOOD day!
We need more than 120k. But I'll chip in to help push us over that number.
Imogen I rest my sodding case. Care for a protest?
£160 from Newcastle to London insanity.
I've got constantly late, dirty, overcrowded and cancelled trains to thank for getting me back on motorbikes. That was about 20 years ago so nothing's changed but I've saved sbout £30k and had a load of fun!
GWR a total shambles last weekend.
Hi everyone, check out The People’s Revolution Party.& some of the amazing policies from there manifesto. It’s a fantastic & expansive manifesto of/by/for the people, check it out here: www.tprp.co.uk They are a party that is entirely run by the people, owned by the people and is here to bring about drastic and radical changes to our society. They run on a system of direct democracy and members can put forward ideas for new policies that will in turn be voted on and if popular will be added into the manifesto as well as elect officers, candidates and more. This is about real change and handing the country back into the hands of you the people. For too long have we been subdued and forgotten about by an oppressive establishment. The best thing is party membership is only £1 for life, WOW! Here are their Infrastructure & Transport policies (more are added to frequently): National Infrastructure Organisations Network Rail, the Highways Agency, train operating companies and bus operating companies would all be required to become National Infrastructure Organisations (NIOs) under a policy to ensure that infrastructure which is essential to a functioning society is not solely operated for the benefit of private shareholders, but in the national interest. Get rid of Nude Body Scanners We believe that other technologies and solutions exist that are able to better serve transport authorities in carrying out their responsibility in the interests of airport and national security. Ridesharing and Carpooling Through a series of targeted marketing campaigns and PSA’s (Public Service Announcements) we would encourage carpooling, especially for parents and those on the same street with a shared workplace, or workplaces in reasonable walking distance of each other. Ridesharing would be promoted through The Job Center for those on low or no workplace income and would utilise ridesharing services such as (but not limited to, and purely for example) Uber, as a means of proof for bringing unemployed people into the taxiing profession and as a way to encourage self-employment. As part of this push, MPs localised near each other would be encouraged to carpool around and on the way to parliament, which would double as a method to encourage cross-party conversation and out-of-parliament policy deliberation. Electric and Alternative Fuel Vehicles Incentivise existing fuelling stations to install charging units for electric vehicles to help create a nationwide network and overcome the perception of “range anxiety” amongst consumers. Incentivise existing fuelling stations to install hydrogen fuel pumps. Incentivise research into retrospective modifications to existing vehicles allowing them to run on hydrogen. This would facilitate an easier transition from our dependency on fossil fuels, and encourage the development of new hydrogen based vehicle (which doesn’t have the same carbon footprint as the manufacture of lithium ion batteries.) As the number of electric cars increases, an increasing amount of battery storage ends up being connected to the National Grid. This storage can be used to supply power back into the grid when it’s under heavy load, and store up power when there is excess generation capacity. We will incentivise electric car owners who allow their cars to be used as dynamic storage batteries for the grid, and help smooth out variable demand. Railways Develop a long-term plan for complete electrification of the national rail network, and the replacement of diesel trains with electric multiple-units. This has the benefit of reduced emissions, improved efficiency, quieter and more comfortable trains. Alongside electrification, signalling should be updated to ETCS level 2 or 3 standard for improved safety and efficiency. Investigate feasibility of building a high speed rail network that connects our ten largest cities (and Cardiff also) to the European high speed network via HS1. Examine which areas of the United Kingdom were most detrimentally affected by the changes in the Beeching Reports, and whether it would be economically feasible to bring back any formerly established railways. HS2 will be scrapped immediately National Infrastructure in the National Interest Too much of the national infrastructure that society relies heavily upon is operated for private profit. The predictable result being: profits line the pockets of shareholders, instead of being used to improve services shareholders often squirrel away their dividends in tax havens, withholding much needed tax revenue that can be used to benefit society commercial interest is put before public interest infrastructure improvements are lacklustre or dismissed over keeping costs down and profits up Community Interest Companies In order to ensure that essential infrastructure is run in the interests of wider society, any organisation performing a function that is essential to the UK’s infrastructure (a National Infrastructure Organisation or NIO) will be required to be a Community Interest Company operated for the benefit of the British public. This has a few benefits: Organisations are subject to the community interest test, requiring them to ensure their activities benefit their community (the British public) Profits must be reinvested, ensuring surpluses go towards service improvement Dividends are still acceptable, allowing for existing or new shareholders to maintain their stake and reap financial rewards for investing in the furtherance of the public benefit aims of the organisation In addition to the public interest test, additional requirements will be placed upon NIOs: All staff must receive at least a living wage The highest pay must not exceed 5 times the national average wage Full financial accounts must be published openly, with no charge for access An annual report must be produced providing a breakdown of money spent on service improvement and on dividends, with each dividend payment itemised including the recipient Requiring these will help to ensure NIOs are responsible, transparent businesses. Infrastructure A number of existing organisations are specifically targeted by this policy: Network Rail Royal Mail BT Highways Agency Existing Toll Roads Mobile phone masts State-funded Schools NHS Hospitals, GP surgeries & health centres Prisons, courts Energy generation and distribution (power stations, gas pipes, water pipes etc) To be an effective policy, it will also cover any organisation performing one of the following functions: operating public rail services operating public bus services All potholes will be repaired within 12 months nationwide A team of designated officials will oversee all road repairs to ensure they are carried out in a prompt manner, no longer will we see lanes/roads closed with no work occurring which we see all too often. A massive infrastructure rebuilding will occur over 10 years to provide world class roads & mag-lev trains all over the country A Compromise on Nationalisation NIOs are intended to provide the basic infrastructure that is essentially to a functioning society in a way that is protected from the volatility of shareholder whims. They provide the basics for innovators to provide services on top of, and without simply placing the entire service burden onto the state through nationalisation. You can join the FB party forum here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/591445294590994
Clive Roberts, Robin McFie
Top three places to the Caravan Club!
Grayling won't listen. He is the most incompetent self serving politician there is. Even when he was education minister he lived in a bubble.
Under EU rules state ownership of All and any is banned ..including state funded ie the nhs would be fased out and privatised eventually.
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Bring Back British Rail shared We Own It's post.
4 weeks ago
Another brilliant video from our friends at We Own It, shot this morning outside the Department for Transport when we submitted our Care2 petition with 120,000 signatures to Keith Williams head of the government's new rail review. #TellKeith you want public ownership! gov.uk/government/consultations/williams-rail-review
We Own It
Share this video to #TellKeith his review must recommend public ownership! The government has announced the biggest review of our railways since privatisation. They've put a man called Keith Williams in charge. We know that public ownership is the only way to fix our broken railways. ...
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Andy Fudge, this tickled me, just the name
Let’s hope Kieth Williams is not a latter day Beeching.
Sadly I remember BR, it’s not what people think. Always late and poor service, removed dining car, dirty carriages.
Sam Hayward
Why does much of jinxed privatisation's investmernt on new trains come from abroad? The excuse is that "Britain can't deliver on time" while many of them have certain design flaws themselves. The exported 185 DMUs are fine by standards of comfort but when you compare them with a 158, they are somewhat "slower" while operating on some lines like York to Scarborough due to being a heavier train.
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Bring Back British Rail
4 weeks ago
Great coverage in today's Daily Mirror of our Care2 petition to Renationalise the Railways signed by 120,000 people, which we're taking to the Department for Transport this Friday 18th. Join us at the Bring our railway into public hands! Petition hand in at 10am and add your own signature here: care2.com/renationaliserailways ...
British Rail petition signed by 120k demands railways return to public ownership
mirror.co.uk
EXCLUSIVE: Campaigners want a service that prioritises 'people over profit'Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Google PlusShare on Linked InShare by Email
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The railways are already owned by the public. The train operating companies are not so, once and for all, for this supporter of your cause, get the distinction right.
Seen a good coverage on ITV by Adam Shaw last night called Trouble on the Tracks
https://www.teleboy.ch/en/tv-guide/itv1hd/10854249/trouble-on-the-tracks-tonight
XX
It's the tracks/signalling equipment that are fucked and causing the cancellations. The companies operating the services are useless but this is a deeper problem, there's no quick fix.
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Bring Back British Rail
1 month ago
Help us reach 120,000 signatures before Friday! On Friday 18 January at 10am, we're taking our Care2 petition to Renationalise our Railways to the Department for Transport to submit as evidence to the Williams Rail Review. We must ensure public ownership is on the table. ...
Sign Petition: Renationalise our railways
thepetitionsite.com
Renationalising the railways would lower fares, improve working conditions and provide a better organised service. The majority of (119381 signatures on petition)Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Google PlusShare on Linked InShare by Email
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can't get out of europe, fat chance of getting BR back LOL.
Iv'e signed this petition on a previous occasion. The longer it takes the more we subsidise another country's fares as our go up, and up, and up. Maybe we should get back in our cars and totally clog all the roads on our way to work or home or wherever people have to travel. Come on people stop using the railways they will learn we are not to be trampled on.
Whoops! That page cannot be found.
Why the full postal address?
Yvonne Sowood
Wasnt the rail system on the brink of disaster when they privatised the network look what happened when railtrack started, had like 4 or 5 major train crashes
Signed
My line has cheaper fares (adjusted for inflation) than it had under BR, it’s clean and reliable and a great service. I don’t use the Railway that much otherwise and if people want it nationalised again that’s fine but I have few problems with it. We have one of the busiest networks in the world which inevitably leads to problems. I can see issues with dividing railtrack from the operators but not entirely convinced that denationalisation would improve everything.
Yes to BRS
Signed
Signed it. Only need 360 odd signatures now.
I read somewhere that privatisation is excluded from his remit
Clicking on the link just takes you to a generic care2 page. No petition.
Page not found - will try later
Won’t accept my valid email address.
It seemingly a lot more complicated than just switching over from privitation to national rail Well it will not happen in my life time, so i am resigned to AS YOU WERE ./ ARE. LOL
page cannot be found
With the Tories in power no chance!
This is why they won’t let Jeremy in!!!
Signed
Signed
Page not found
I think people need reminding of bureaucracy running anything .British rail manky falling apart rolling stock,timetable non existant,filthy stations ,not much different from now.Prices were high then, just like now.Nationalisation will cost the taxpayer a fortune
Signed now sharing.
Signed
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