More than 20,000 railway jobs could be axed under government reforms of the industry, unions have warned.

Officials said surveys have consistently revealed that lack of staffing is a major concern of passengers, but they voiced fears cuts will be made as a result of the recent "value for money" review by Sir Roy McNulty.

Savings suggested by the review could lead to thousands of job losses among guards, ticket office and station staff, maintenance workers and catering employees, said the unions.

The TUC, Aslef, Rail Maritime and Transport union, Transport Salaried Staffs Association and Unite launched a campaign aimed at opposing any cuts, handing out postcards to rail users across the country today.

TUC deputy general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "The Government vision of a rail industry with deserted stations, closed ticket offices and trains with no staff is one that appeals to train operators seeking to cut costs and maximise profits - but train passengers are appalled.

"The public wants the help, reassurance and safety that rail staff provide, which is why so many passengers have responded to our campaign and have expressed their anger at the plans to cull the rail industry workforce."

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: "In Victorian times we had three classes of coaches on the railways - first, second and third. These Government proposals would make the whole railway third class. Ministers need to get out of their limos and find out what rail passengers want."

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "This Government, using the McNulty Rail Review as cover, is hell-bent on a policy of vandalising and de-staffing the railways regardless of the consequences for both staff and the travelling public."

Rail Performance Minister Norman Baker said: "Our plans are to reduce the cost of running the railway by £3.5bn per annum by 2019. If we can do this, we can reduce the burden on taxpayers and put an end to the era of above-inflation increases, as we are determined to do.

"The Rail Command Paper places the passenger at the heart of everything the rail network is about. But any proposals for changes to staffing at stations and on trains are a matter for individual train operators."

Loading Slideshow...

  • Carl Froch knocks out Lucian Bute during their IBF World Super Middleweight Title bout at Nottingham Capital FM Arena on May 26, 2012 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)

  • A man trying to catch a young wild stallion in Duelmen, Germany, Saturday, May 26, 2012. It is believed that this is the last herd of wild horses on the European continent in this 350 hectare reservation in western Germany, where more than 300 of the indigenous horses stay free and wild without any care under the protection of the Duke of Croy. Only once a year the new born stallions are caught and sold, all mares stay with the herd and guarantee the survive of the endangered species. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

  • Miami Marlins center fielder Chris Coghlan stretches for a triple hit by San Francisco Giants' Ryan Theriot in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Miami, Saturday, May 26, 2012. The Marlins defeated the Giants 5-3. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

  • An animal rights activist dressed as a cat protests the Ringling Brothers Circus outside the circus venue before the start of a show in Mexico City, Saturday, May 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

  • A resident watches from atop a building as fire fighters, unseen, spray water after a fire broke out at a garment factory, left, in Gandhi Nagar area of New Delhi, India, Sunday, May 27, 2012. No casualty has been reported so far and the reason for the fire is not known. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

  • A fisheye view with a wide-angle lens shows center court Philippe Chatrier as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France and Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia play their first round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday May 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)

  • Will Power (12), of Australia, drives under Mike Conway, of England, after they made contact in the first turn during IndyCar's Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Tom Hemmer)

  • The Phoenix fireboat sprays plumes of water as part of the Golden Gate Bridge's 75th anniversary celebration on Sunday, May 27, 2012, in San Francisco. The commemoration included a vintage boat parade and a fireworks display slated for the evening. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

  • Jessica Ennis of Great Britain competes in the Women's High Jump in the women's heptathlon during the Hypomeeting Gotzis 2012 at the Mosle Stadiom on May 26, 2012 in Gotzis, Austria. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)