Environmental campaigners demonstrated outside Surbiton station on Saturday in support of a national campaign to improve investment in the railways.

Members of Kingston Friends of the Earth are calling for increased capacity on the railways and more security and staffing, especially at smaller stations.

The environmental organisation wants to see an increase in public spending on rail of at least 75 per cent and will be encouraging people to send text messages to Gordon Brown to encourage him to make more money available. Rail users will be able to send a message from their mobile phone to the number 07764 125 125. The message will be converted to an email and forwarded to the Chancellor. If passengers don't have a mobile or can't text, they can take action online at www.stoptrainrobbery.com.

Penny Baker of Kingston Friends of the Earth said: "Rail can be a cheap, efficient and pleasant way to travel. But decades of under-investment and an appalling bodged privatisation have left Britain's railways in an abysmal mess."

She added: "Send in your protests today Gordon Brown will get them tomorrow! This action could be a model for tomorrow's protests you can do it without leaving your seat and all for less than 10p a go!"