LABOUR MP Linda Riordan has described the economic and social case for renationalising he railways as “a no-brainer.”

Addressing transport union TSSA’s annual conference in Leeds on Saturday, Ms Riordan called for the railways to be “delivered from the shackles of privatisation.”

She claimed that “the present policy had failed to deliver the modern state-of-the-art railway that was needed.”

“We are stuck with a two-tier network and a third-class level of service, especially in northern towns and cities,” she argued, adding that the provision of new rolling stock seemed to be focused in the south and London, to the exclusion of northern areas.

And the Halifax MP urged Ed Miliband to commit the next Labour government to renationalising the railways.

“We need a visionary and bold approach from government,” she said.

“There needs to be the return of a Labour government before renationalisation can be contemplated.

“Those in doubt should look to the example of the East Coast line, which has never been run so well as it is now it is in public hands.”

Ms Riordan called on trade unionists to continue campaigning alongside Labour MPs and others for rail renationalisation, saying: “We must go on campaigning for a rail network that values the people that work in it and the passengers that use it.”

TSSA president Mick Carney claimed that fight of rail workers up and down the land to defend terms, conditions and pay was the fight of everyone.

Mr Carney attacked the coalition government for its scapegoating approach to different groups in society.

“The attacks on the disabled are a disgrace. The attacks on immigrants bringing Ukip to the fore are a disgrace and people going to foodbanks in the 7th richest country in the world is a disgrace,” he said, declaring that only the election of a Labour government can lead to the changes needed to create a more just society.