RAIL protests will take place across Britain on Wednesday demanding the return of train services to public ownership.

A Rail Revolution: National Day of Action will target more than 20 stations including Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff and London.

Groups including the We Own It movement and the Association of British Commuters will protest on the day rail firms impose a 3.1 per cent fares increase.

The groups said in a statement: “Coinciding with the public consultation for the government’s new ‘root and branch’ review of our railways, the Williams Rail Review, we’re calling on passengers all over the country to respond in favour of a re-unified national rail network run for people not profit.”

London’s Kings Cross station will be targeted from 7.30am to 9am on Wednesday.

On Friday January 18 a petition proposing re-nationalisation of the railways, signed by more than 118,000, people will be presented to the government’s Transport Department.