“ACTION FOR RAIL”
Sheffield TUC volunteers will be handing our cards to passengers outside Sheffield Rail Station 0800hrs -0900hrs
Support affordable fares and a publicly owned railway
Sheffield TUC is taking part in tomorrow’s national day of action organised by Action For Rail
Martin Mayer Sheffield TUC Secretary says ” Our privatised railway is getting more expensive to use every year. That doesn’t have to be the case: bringing rail back into public ownership would be CHEAPER for the taxpayer – and keep fares lower for all of us”.
ACTION FOR RAIL SAYS:
Rail fares are rising again in January 2017, but our services are often late, overcrowded and under-staffed. We’ve had enough of paying more but getting less! Through our high fares and taxes, we’re subsidising company profits and shareholder dividends, rather than this money being reinvested to improve our services. In 2014-15 private train companies paid out £222m in dividends, a 21% increase on the previous year.
While fares are going up, there are fewer ticket offices and staff at stations to provide help, in addition there are plans to remove guards and extend driver only operated trains. We need a safe, punctual, accessible and properly staffed railway. We shouldn’t have to keep paying for the failures of privatisation.
The railways make a valuable contribution to communities, the economy and environment. Rail campaigners are taking action at stations across the country on 3 January 2017 in support of affordable fares and public ownership.
Action For Rail is supported by ASLEF; UNITE; RMT; TUC ; TSSA