by Conrad Landin

at King’s Cross station

RIP-OFF rail fares are “shutting students out of education” and deepening the cost-of-living crisis, campaigners warned yesterday as they picketed stations over soaring ticket prices.

Passengers and unions handed out thousands of postcards condemning spiralling prices at over 50 rail hubs across Britain on Tuesday morning.

They demanded ministers turn the points on rail policy and return the network to public ownership, following the success of the state-controlled East Coast franchise.

University of the Arts London student union president Shelly Asquith joined a protest at London’s King’s Cross station.

She said: “So many students now rely on public transport to study.

“Our incomes are stagnating but the price of travel keeps going up.

“When companies are making huge profits, students are being priced out of education. Revenues shouldn’t be going to shareholders, they should be invested in services. They couldt even be invested in education.”

After RPI inflation was announced at 2.6 per cent this month, so-called regulated fares will swell by up to 5.6 per cent, averaging 3.6 per cent.

Mid Bedfordshire Labour candidate Charlynne Pullen, who is standing against Tory candidate and former I’m a Celebrity contestant Nadine Dorries, said her opponent was “nowhere to be seen” on the rail issue.

“Shareholders are cashing in and commuters are being punished for a fiasco they didn’t create,” she said.

And Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said the wheels were rapidly coming off the privatisation project. 

“For the first time since privatisation, we’re seeing new franchises put out to tender with a requirement for less trains,” he said.

Commenting on Labour’s compromise policy, where the state will bid for franchises, TUC head of organising Kevin Rowan said: “We’re pleased that Labour is finally talking the language of public ownership.”

The TUC has launched a 2015 fares calculator at tuc.org.uk/railfareprojector2015.