Campaigners handed out cards to passengers at railway stations bearing a Christmas mocked-up message from ‘your train operator’. The sarcastic slogan read: “Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to us” set out in the style of a rail timetable. It was intended as a criticism of rail fare rises and planned cuts to services and staff. Transport unions say rail fares have gone up by more than 26 per cent – nearly three times as fast as wages – since 2008.