ANGRY commuters launched a campaign in Darlington yesterday to re-nationalise the railways.

Led by two Darlington women who regularly use the train to commute to Newcastle, the campaign is claimed to be the last throw of the dice for passengers fed up with delays, dirty trains and a poor safety record.

The idea was sparked after a conversation on a train delayed yet again between York and Newcastle.

Darlington-based Miss Pat Buttle, who works for the Newcastle and Gateshead TUC centre against unemployment, was delighted when two other women travelling on her early morning train agreed with her that the railway should be re-nationalised.

Since that conversation, Miss Buttle, who is also a Labour ward councillor in Darlington, has been inundated with calls from other passengers wanting to back the petition calling on the government to resume responsibility and create a better service.

"We have done this in the interest of public safety," Miss Buttle told the D&S Times. "We demand a properly run railway, with trains arriving on time and delivering us safely to and from our destinations.

"At the moment people using the railway are very nervous wondering if they will get to work safely and on time.

"They are between the devil and the deep blue sea because there is no alternative transport. Buses take longer and are not flexible and cars are not always the answer."

Although the idea was born only two weeks ago, the news of the petition has spread across the country and the group already has hundreds of names in support.

"When you speak to passengers taking these long journeys they all say the same - the railway needs re-nationalising," Miss Buttle added.

"The conditions on the trains are dreadful, the service is abysmal and the safety record is far from satisfactory."

The group, called Passengers for Re-Nationalisation, is also unhappy about the amount of money currently being spent on re-vamping retail outlets and creating internet cafs at stations.

Members claim the money would be better spent on improving safety and providing a timely service.

Fellow campaigner Miss Caroline Moses from Heighington is now having to drive to her job in Newcastle to avoid being stranded.

She said: "Spending money on modern retail units and modern stations while the trains and the service are in such a poor state is nothing short of criminal.

"Railway infrastructure is now in a worse state than at any time in the last 50 years but fares and company profits continue to rise while services deteriorate.

"It's time to recognise that privatisation was a tragic mistake and the railway industry returned to public control."

l To register support for the campaign, e-mail Miss Moses at carolinejulia2