THE Green Party candidate for Bromsgrove Giovanni Esposito, better known as Spoz, has voiced his support for a national campaign to bring the railways back into public ownership.

He said: “Public transport should be run for the interest of passengers and workers, not as a quick profit for rail bosses and shareholders. 21 years on, with a billion pounds per year wasted since privatisation, it's time to bring our railways back into public ownership.

"We've some of the most expensive train fares in Europe, with ticket prices rising faster than wages, yet rail companies are receiving massive pay-outs, pocketing billions in subsidies from taxpayers. The average rail boss earns a million pound pay-packet, whilst money leaks out into shareholder profits. It's clear how inefficient our railways are.

"To make matters worse, the Government is giving the green light to train companies to make 30 per cent cuts, meaning less staff at ticket offices, and dramatic cuts to infrastructure and maintenance."

The campaign is seeing trade union activists and campaigners marking 21 years since the privatisation of the UK's railways with a 48 hour protest at local railway stations on Tuesday, March 31, and Wednesday, April 1.

Mr Esposito added: “Almost all passenger train services in Europe are provided by the public sector. Ludicrously though, much of the UK's rail is operated by foreign state-owned railways. For some foolish reason UK state-owned companies are prevented from bidding against them.

"The east coast mainline fiasco has shown how nationalising rail can offer massive benefit to the treasury. After private operators failed to make a success of it, it was nationalised in 2009. Now it's been privatised again, despite returning a billion pounds to the taxpayer in the last five years. It's shameful.

"Privatisation has failed. Public ownership would create a much fairer and efficient system, saving cash for taxpayers and passengers. It's time for radical reform of our railways. We need a system that benefits passengers, taxpayers, the economy and environment."