The Co-operative Party has launched a new campaign, The People's Rail, to give the British public real power over its rail network. We're calling on Network Rail to change the way it's run, to give real control to passengers and the public.

A new study published by the Co-operative Party to launch the campaign calculates that were Network Rail as efficient as the European average, the money saved could buy more than 1,000 new rail coaches every year. It reveals how prominent examples of disruption to rail users and train operators have been unnecessary – and shows how the governance structure of Network Rail is failing both passengers and the wider rail industry:

"In effect, the Board appoints Network Rail’s members. While an independent panel selects the members, this is effectively appointed and remunerated by the Board as well. This puts Network Rail’s Board in the unparalleled position of being able to choose those to whom it is accountable. Many criticised the unchecked powers of media tycoon Conrad Black, but even he was not in the same enviable position of being able to select his own shareholders.

"The People’s Rail Campaign has been launched to remedy this situation. We believe that long suffering passengers deserve better than a network run for the convenience of an unaccountable Board, and that the British public deserve real control over how the network is run."

The campaign calls for all citizens to be given the right to become individual members of Network Rail. Network Rail would give all of its members the right to elect governor representatives to a Members’ Council, which would replace the role currently fulfilled by its existing membership. Industry members could continue to be nominated by their respective interest groups - be they train operating companies or trade unions.

Launching the campaign, Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP, Chair of the Co-operative Party group of MPs said:

"Recent events have led many to doubt whether the governance of Network Rail is as strong as it should be. At a time when we may have expected the management to be under serious pressure after their failure over the New Year, the Board’s response has been to reward them with massive bonuses.

"As a Labour and Co-operative MP, I know only too well the benefits that consumer ownership can bring. Through making organisations accountable to their users and other stakeholders, it has been demonstrated that we can not only strengthen citizenship, but also build services based on the needs of the people that they serve."

Welcoming the campaign, the new Chair of the Commons Transport Select Committee, Louise Ellman MP said:

"This pamphlet is a valuable contribution to the current debate about the future of rail. While Network Rail is a great improvement on the disastrous privatised Railtrack, major questions about its accountability remain. Network Rail’s failure over the New Year, (2008) that left thousands of passengers stranded and led to a record £14m fine by the Rail Regulator does not seem to have impacted on Senior Executives who subsequently received massive bonuses. The Co-operative Movement has a great deal of experience in identifying accountable structures. This pamphlet discusses possible ways forward for Network Rail. It is highly relevant to the current debate."