Campaigners plead for Northern Rail to stay under public control after years of 'privatised chaos'

Protests will take place in the North of England today over Northern Rail's future. Picture: PA.

The franchise was taken away from Arriva Rail North on Sunday, March 1 after complaints about the poor level of service.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said the franchise had "collapsed" after years of "mismanagement" by successive private train operators.

The union said it believed the forthcoming Williams Review into how the railways are run could move Northern back into the private rail sector within weeks.

There are calls for Northern Rail to remain under public control. Picture: PA.

RMT officials will join politicians, passengers and campaigners at train stations across the North of England on Monday to send a "clear message" to the Government that the private franchise model is "broken" and should be replaced by an integrated, publicly owned railway.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Private speculators have driven Northern Rail to the brink and its return to public ownership, joining the East Coast Main Line, should not be seen as a short-term fix whilst we wait to see what scheme this Government comes up with next.

"This has to be a permanent move followed up with the investment and planning needed to deliver the rail services that passengers deserve after years of privatised chaos."

Ellen Lees, campaigns officer at We Own It, added in a statement that the “calamity” of Northern Rail shows how disastrous privatisation has been for our railway system.

Emily Yates, co-founder of the Association of British Commuters, echoed this view and said passengers deserve “a transparent and accountable system” going forward.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We have asked the Government's operator to prepare a 100-day plan to ensure we leave no stone unturned in delivering real and tangible improvements for passengers.

"We are also clear that we will look to provide local leaders with more powers over local services, timetables, fares and stations, to provide more control over their railways.

"This franchise underlines how the franchising model needs to change, which is why the Williams Review is looking at reforms across the railway to ensure passengers are put first."