The demonstration against train fare rises we held at Waterloo Station on Tuesday 16 August 2011 in collaboration with Campaign for Better Transport, Climate Rush, RMT, Together for Transport and TSSA. Photo: Robin Prime
Response to Network Rail Bonuses
Evening Standard (page 57)
Thursday 30 May 2013
With ever increasing inequality in this country, the news of Network Rail chief’s big bonuses makes sickening reading for the growing numbers of normal working people who struggle to pay extortionate train fares.
The big question here is not the size of this specific round of bonuses (most alone are more than four times the average UK salary), but more whether such a fundamental public service as our railways should be run by the same loathsome bonus culture that dominates our disgraced banking sector.
This culture has, of course, resulted from the disastrous privatisation of British Rail in 1994, which attempted to ‘introduce a market’ into a sector where it is completely illogical to do so. Numerous private companies running different sections of the railway now ‘compete’ with each other when what we really need to make sure trains run on time, is cooperation.
The aim of a public transport system should be to provide the best possible service for everyone. This is essential in an age where we must drastically reduce our collective C02 emissions by encouraging more people to use trains rather than gas guzzling cars or short-haul flights. The only way we will achieve this is by bringing back British Rail and creating a newly reunified public transport system run for people not profit.
But in the short-term, while we continue to fight for this common sense solution to become a reality, we must demand that these bonuses are not handed out to individuals (who have failed to do their jobs), but are invested back into the railway network for the benefit of all.
Ellie Harrison
Founder, Bring Back British Rail
Filed under Press
Bring Back British Rail partners The Spirit of ’45
Bring Back British Rail is very pleased to be an official partner for The Spirit of ’45 – Ken Loach’s new film celebrating the ideas and ethos of the government that founded British Railways in 1948. Come and join Bring Back British Rail supporters at special screenings happening up-and-down the country on 17 March 2013.
Join the Action Against Fare Rises this New Year!
Merry Christmas! Our rail fares are set to increase above inflation again this January for the tenth year in a row! We already have to pay more to travel by train than any other country in Europe thanks to the failings of privatisation.
Bring Back British Rail is joining forces with our partners Together for Transport, Climate Rush, SHIFT Campaign, Act! and TSSA to launch another #FAREFAIL protest this New Year.
When you go back to work at the start of January and get a nasty shock at the cost of your commute, make sure you tell the coalition government how angry you are!
- Tweet @transportgovuk using #farefail #railfail
Tweet #farefail
- Or send a message to your MP via the #FAREFAIL website
Filed under Demonstration
Press Coverage
There was a huge amount of press coverage for the campaign following the demonstration against rail fare rises at London’s Waterloo Station on 14 August 2012. This included images in The Guardian and Metro (see below) and interviews with Ellie Harrison on Sky News, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 5 Live.
Metro (p.9) Wednesday 15 August 2012
The Guardian (p.4) Wednesday 15 August 2012
Filed under Press
Radio Interviews
Tuesday 14 August 2012
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Vanessa Feltz (sitting in for Jeremy Vine) interviews Ellie Harrison from Bring Back British Rail and Stephen Cornish a former British Rail employee.
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Gareth Evans (sitting in for Danny Kelly) interviews Ellie Harrison from Bring Back British Rail about the benefits of renationalising our railways.
Wednesday 15 August 2012
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Shelagh Fogarty chairs a live debate about the West Coast franchise decision between Ellie Harrison from Bring Back British Rail, Mike Williams a Virgin Trains passenger and three MPs: Gordon Birtwistle (Liberal Democrat), Simon Danczuk (Labour) and Graham Evans (Conservative).
Filed under Press
Demo Against Train Fare Rises
On Tuesday 14 August 2012, inflation figures will be announced which determine just how much our already overpriced train fares will increase by in the New Year.
Bring Back British Rail is working with Campaign for Better Transport, Action for Rail and Climate Rush to organise a massive demonstration at London’s Waterloo Station calling for Fair Fares Now!
Tuesday 14 August 2012
8:30 – 9:30 AM
Outside Waterloo Station
(corner of York Road and Sutton Walk)
We need your support! If you’re in / near London, please come down and join us and help by spreading the word, inviting your friends, bringing your own banners and making a noise!
If you would like to get more actively involved in the organisation of the demo please email info@bringbackbritishrail.org with ‘ACTIVIST’ in the subject heading and we’ll let you into our plans in the run up to the day.
If you’re elsewhere in the UK, you can join Action for Rail’s demonstrations outside stations all over the county.
Filed under Demonstration
Rip-off Journey? Have your Say!
Do not miss this opportunity to let the government know what you think of the rip-off rail fares in this country! Today they have bowed to public pressure and launched their fist ever comprehensive Rail Fares and Ticketing Review – a public consultation on train fare pricing which will remain open until Thursday 28 June 2012.
Please take the time to complete the online form >
Visit the #FAREFAIL website >
Spread the word by tweeting #FAREFAIL @bringbackBR
Filed under Petition
Take Action Today!
Today’s the Day to Have Your Say!
This January our train fares have increased by an average of 5.9% and are now the most expensive in Europe. No matter where you live around the country, there are three simple ways to get involved in today’s #FAREFAIL protests via Twitter, text and phone.
Tell George Osborne just how much your fare went up this year and why you are so angry:
- Tweet @hmtreasury #farefail #railfail
Tweet #farefail
- or text FAREFAIL and your message to 88802
(texts will cost your standard rate) - or call the Treasury switchboard 020 7270 5000
Please take the time TODAY to spread the word about #FAREFAIL so we can deluge the Treasury and let them know exactly what we ALL think about their unfair fare increases!
Website: www.farefail.org
Twitter: @bringbackBR
Photo: Amy Scaife (taken at St Pancras at 8:30am on Tuesday 3 January 2012)
16:50 BBC Three Counties Radio
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Interview with Ellie Harrison from Bring Back British Rail about the #FAREFAIL protests.
Filed under Demonstration
New Year Action
You may have heard the news that our train fares are about to increase by an average of 5.9% in January.
If you’re sick of being ripped-off by private train companies and by a government which wants to rid themselves of all responsibility for running our public transport system, then get ready to take action!
Bring Back British Rail is teaming up with Campaign for Better Transport, Climate Rush and Together for Transport to organise a national day of action on Tuesday 3 January to protest against these extortionate fare increases.
#FAREFAIL protests will be taking place online via text and Twitter as well as at major stations in London and elsewhere around the country from the morning of Tuesday 3 January 2012.
We’re keen to recruit people to come along and to help us spread the word. It doesn’t matter where you live, if you’d like to get involved, please email us with the subject ‘ACTIVIST’, sign up and order materials directly via the #FAREFAIL website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the updates:
Website: www.farefail.org
Email: info@bringbackbritishrail.org
Twitter: @bringbackBR
Filed under Demonstration
New Merchandise!
We’re very pleased to announce that our new t-shirts, enamel badges and rail card wallets are now available to buy in the merchandise section of this website:
www.bringbackbritishrail.org/merchandise
The perfect Christmas presents for pissed-off passengers! These are a fantastic way of spreading the word about the campaign and making your own views known. All proceeds from the sale of merchandise will help to fund campaign materials and activities in 2012.
Filed under Merchandise
