Labour predicts rail fares will win it seats and promises "biggest reform of railway" in decades

Shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh has said that rising rail fares will help it win seats, whilst promising the biggest reforms to the railways since privatisastion.

She said that Ed Miliband's government would bring "big change to tackle the cost of transport and to give London-style transport powers to other areas". She savaged "inflation-busting 25% fare rises" on buses under the coalition, which had led to "the young, the poor, the disabled and the elderly cut off from normal life" and pledged to "support any city that wants London-style buses".

Creagh also set out her plans for big change for the railway network, criticising "a 20% increase in ticket prices," singling out a season ticket from Milton Keynes to London that had risen from £3,800 to "nearly £4,900 next year... next year, I think those commuters will be voting for Andrew Pakes to be Labour's new MP for Milton Keynes South".

She blasted "secret rail fare rises" on the Northern Rail franchise with a new evening peak fare "hitting students and part-time workers the hardest" giving them the choice of "paying 160% more or wait until after 6.30 and travel home in the dark". And "last week, ministers did it again, secret fare rises for First Capital Connect passengers" whilst rail electrification's budget was "blown and under review".

"A Labour government will deliver the biggest reform of the railways since privatisation to deliver a better deal for taxpayers and passengers. We will bring Network Rail and a new passenger rail body together to co-ordinate track and train operations and look after passengers."