RAIL workers on the West Coast and West Midlands lines are to stage protests against changes they say will endanger staff and passengers and worsen services, their union revealed yesterday.

The protests by members of rail union RMT begin on Monday.

They plan to leaflet thousands of passengers at stations along the routes to warn them of Tory plans which RMT has warned will reduce service levels and drive up prices.

The union also claims that the plans proposed by the Department for Transport will hurt workers, who may be faced with job losses and reduced pensions.

General secretary Mick Cash said: “Passengers on London Midland face ever rising ticket prices, yet privatisation has led to a much reduced, overcrowded, poorly maintained, dirty and less safe railway service.

“And worse is yet to come if the Department for Transport’s plans for the West Midlands and West Coast routes aren’t exposed and opposed.”