Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Two thirds of Britain's rail operators are owned by overseas companies, leaving passengers paying high fares to boost the profits of foreign firms, according to a new report.
The Rail Maritime and Transport union said state railways in Germany, France and Belgium were among those running rail services in this country.
The union said its research, released at its annual conference in Brighton, made a "mockery" of the Government's policy on railways.
The union has been campaigning against a decision to re-privatise the East Coast mainline.
General secretary Bob Crow said: "This research blows apart the whole government case for bulldozing through the early re-privatisation of the East Coast mainline. What they are actually saying is that any state can run our railways as long as it isn't the British state.
"The hard truth is that the British public are paying the highest fares in Europe to travel on crowded and ageing trains in order to subsidise railways in Germany and other parts of the Continent.
"RMT stands shoulder to shoulder with our European colleagues fighting to keep their railways in public hands but what a nonsense it is that our own Government is denying us the same benefits of lower costs and increased investment that the public ownership so clearly brings."
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments