Union leaders are urging the Government to order a halt to job cuts by rail firms, warning that the industry faces a "growing crisis".
Officials will tell Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon that rail operators should be told to freeze dividends and invest profits in the protection of services.
The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association and Aslef will warn that jobs and services were being cut at an "alarming" rate by rail firms across the country.
The Government will be urged to order an industry-wide moratorium on job losses and reductions in services, amid warnings that train operating companies could be looking for even heavier cuts and "massive" increases in unregulated fares.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "While the train operators are jacking up fares by as much as 11%, thousands of rail worker jobs are on the line and up to a third of this year's essential renewals programme is being deferred.
"The companies are protecting their profits while those who run the services and who keep the tracks safe face the prospect of being dumped on the dole queue.
"It is critical for the future of the rail industry that the government intervene now to stop the jobs massacre and to call to account the private companies who have bled billions in profits and subsidies out of the British taxpayer."
RMT members working for Stagecoach subsidiary East Midland Trains will take industrial action on Friday over 200 threatened job losses.
