TO: PATRICK MCLOUGHLIN, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT
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We call on the government to rule out the break-up and sell-off of Network Rail – the publicly-owned body responsible for the safety and maintenance of Britain’s railways and for the management of our largest stations.
Why is this important?
Network Rail was formed in 2002 after the tragic failure of the privately-owned Railtrack plc, which was heavily criticised over several fatal train crashes in the late 1990s (particularly in Southall and Ladbroke Grove where 38 people lost their lives).
It was acknowledged at the time that profit-making had proven incompatible with the need to put the public’s safety first. Although Network Rail’s record hasn’t been perfect, it has demonstrably improved safety standards on our railways, and as long as it remains in public hands we can continue to work to improve it.
Re-privatising Network Rail would be a disaster. Not only is it the unnecessary sell-off of yet another important public asset, but it is also the wilful return to the failed experiment that was Railtrack plc. It would lead to yet more fragmentation and confusion on our railways and result in rising costs for taxpayers and falling safety standards for passengers.
Petition Supported by:
• All on Board (Compass)
• Bring Back British Rail
• Campaign against Climate Change
• Campaign for Better Transport
• The People’s Assembly
• Together For Transport (TSSA)
• We Own It