RIP-OFF rail fares are “shutting students out of education” and deepening the cost-of-living crisis for commuters, 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 could even be invested in education.”

After the Retail Price Index inflation marker was announced at 2.6 per cent this month, so-called “regulated” fares could now swell by up to 5.6 per cent, with an average of 3.6.

Mid Bedfordshire parliamentary candidate for Labour 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 against privateers for franchises, TUC head of organising Kevin Rowan said: “We’re pleased that Labour is finally talking the language of public ownership.”

RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash was more critical of the opposition party. “Labour should get off the fence — they’ve got a half-way house which privateers could take them to court over.”

Transport campaigner Colin Bex said it was crucial to make Britain’s rail network “less London-centric,” and called for a “proper orbital railway network.”

The TUC has launched a calculator for fare hikes at tuc.org.uk/railfareprojector2015.