MINISTERS were accused of deliberately driving up rail fares in a bid to ease overcrowding on trains.
Fares on many main lines today rose by more than inflation for the fourth successive year.
Chris Grayling, the Shadow Transport Secretary, said the rises came at a time of growing problems with overcrowding.
The Government's 10-year plan for transport, published in 2000, promised to improve capacity.
But figures from the Rail Regulator predict a 30% increase in passenger numbers, with no additional capacity between now and 2014, said Mr Grayling.
He said changes to the way rail franchises worked encouraged operators to bid as much as they could to secure the right to run services.
They then packed in as many passengers as possible in order to claw the money back, he said.
Meanwhile, growing interference from the Government's Transport Department in the details of timetables is leaving the companies with less flexibility over the services they offer, said Mr Grayling.
