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On the announcement that Merseyrail will be brought into public ownership, RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: "This is a positive step for rail workers, passengers and the wider Liverpool City Region, and one that our union has consistently campaigned for. "For too long, private operators and their shareholders have profited from a railway sustained by significant public investment. Bringing Merseyrail into public ownership creates the opportunity to reinvest resources into the network, improve services and put the interests of passengers and the workforce ahead of private profit. "This announcement opens the door to building a railway that is properly accountable to the communities it serves. Success will depend on ensuring that the workforce is fully involved in shaping the future of the railway, with secure jobs, fair pay, safe staffing levels and high-quality services at its heart. "We look forward to meeting with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to discuss how the new publicly owned operator can be developed to deliver the greatest possible benefits for both workers and passengers."