WHISTLES and chants echoed through the streets of York as a protest rally shunted the future of the rail industry into the General Election spotlight.

More than 50 protesters marched through the "railway city" yesterday to call for train services to be hauled back into public ownership.

The rally from Clifford's Tower to the station - part of a two-week series of protests in 14 cities between London and Glasgow - came ahead of a speech in York by Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union .

Before he fronted a public meeting at the Crescent Working Men's Club last night, he said the case for nationalisation was "overwhelming".

He told the Evening Press that MPs in the upcoming election should make their stances clear on the rail debate.

Mr Crow said: "They are supposed to represent voters, and we think the vast majority want the railways renationalised."

Stan Herschel, York RMT regional organiser, said the public was not getting value for money from the railways and nationalisation would save taxpayers £4.5 billion, he said.

York candidates in the May 5 election today responded to the RMT challenge.

Hugh Bayley, Labour, said that he was in favour of the Government taking action when private companies gave passengers bad services.

"The Government recently took over one of the London commuter franchises and we set up Network Rail as a public interest company when Railtrack let the public down."

Clive Booth, standing for the Conservatives, said the RMT's plans would be "madness".

He said: "It would not help passengers, who have suffered enough disruption to their daily lives.

"I can fully understand the unions wanting to protect the jobs of their members, but train-operating companies have struggled for the last 12 years to improve services."

Liberal Democrat candidate Andrew Waller said his party would spend an additional £325 million on new rail projects and improved station security. "This would help the reopening of stations around York which can help to reduce congestion in the city," he added.

Green candidate Andy D'Agorne, who attended the march, said: "We would return both operating companies and track to public ownership.

"We would also introduce new lines, open additional stations on existing routes, such as Haxby, and expand the rail freight network to get more goods transport off our roads."

Updated: 10:33 Thursday, April 21, 2005