DELEGATES at transport union RMT’s annual conference de-camped from their Newcastle hotel venue yesterday to protest outside the city’s Central Railway Station against the refranchising of Northern Rail and Trans-Pennine Express.

Three bidders have been shortlisted to operate Northern — the state-owned rail companies of France, Germany and Holland but the government has forbidden any bid from the British state sector.

The union estimates that the deal will transfer over £1 billion from railways in northern England to subsidise foreign lines.

MPs have expressed “dismay” that “other countries’ railways will profit while northern passengers endure higher fares, fewer services and overcrowded trains.”

They warn that staffing cuts will mean “trains will no longer have a guard, while ticket offices could be closed and station staff cut.”

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “We are showing our solidarity with our local members leading the fight for rail in north-east England.”