REPRESENTATIVES attending the RMT rail union’s national annual general meeting in Newcastle are to join local members at a protest over cuts and privatisation.

The protest on Thursday (June 25) at Newcastle central railway station comes on the eve of the deadline for bids for the new Northern Rail franchise.

The RMT claims re-privatising both Northern and TransPennine Express services will lead to more than a billion pounds “leaking out” to subsidise foreign railways and shareholder dividends.

General Secretary Mick Cash said: "?Newcastle is right at the heart of the fight to stop the profit-led carve up of jobs and services that is at the core of the new Northern and TransPennine franchises and we will be showing our support and solidarity with our local members leading the fight for rail in the North-East.”