Only 23 per cent of the 1,017 people questioned supported continued privatisation in the industry, according to the RMT.

The state of the railways, including the future of the East Coast Main Line inter-city passenger franchise, will be debated by the TUC in Liverpool on Thursday - when the RMT will be calling for support for the full re-nationalisation of the railways, as well as London Underground.

General secretary Bob Crow said: "This poll... shows that the Government are miles out of step with the voters when it comes to the crucial issue of who owns and runs our transport services.

"We are calling on the Government to use the return to public ownership of the East Coast Main Line in a few weeks' time as the starting point for a re-nationalisation of the railways and not as a short term crisis measure."

He added: "If Labour are serious about re-engaging with their core supporters, they can prove it by making a bold statement on public ownership of the railways."

See also:

70% 'back rail renationalisation'

BBC News: 14 September 2009

The RMT union has consistently called for public ownership of the rail network

Most people are in favour of returning the railways to public ownership, with just 23% supporting privatisation, according to a poll.

A survey of more than 1,000 people for the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT), found seven out of 10 of those questioned backed renationalisation.

The state of the railways will be debated by the TUC conference in Liverpool later this week.

The RMT will be calling for support for full rail renationalisation.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said the poll showed the government is "out of step with the voters" on who owns and runs the rail network.

He said: "If Labour are serious about re-engaging with their core supporters, they can prove it by making a bold statement on public ownership of the railways."