Labour has promised to renationalise nearly all passenger rail services within five years if it wins the next election.
It says a new public body would inherit existing contracts when they expire, taking on responsibility for running services.
Automatic refunds for train delays and better internet connection on trains are also planned.
But Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the plans were "unfunded".
Responsibility for running train services was handed to private companies during the 1990s, since when there has been a boom in rail usage since the days of British Rail.
But they have faced heavy criticism over fares and reliability, with critics saying it has led to an inefficient and fragmented system that has failed passengers.
The word "nationalisation" doesn't appear in Labour's plan, but that is what it in effect amounts to.
Under its blueprint, a new arm's length body, Great British Railways (GBR), would take over service contracts currently held by private firms as they expire in the coming years.
GBR would operate services and set timetables, and eventually take over responsibility for maintaining and improving rail infrastructure from Network Rail.
'Transparent and clearer'
But the party says GBR, like private companies now, would continue to lease rolling stock because it would not be "responsible" to take on the cost of buying it.
Labour is also not planning to nationalise rail freight companies, and would still allow privately financed "open access operators", such as Hull Trains and Lumo, to continue.
Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said her party were not "ideologues" and that it was right to use private companies where they add value.
But she said the current system "was not working" and had led to delays and overcrowding.
Labour is also pledging to deliver "a best-price ticket guarantee" ensuring passengers automatically pay the lowest possible amount for tickets when making contactless payments.
Ms Haigh said the guarantee would not necessarily mean cheaper prices, but that the system would be "more transparent and clearer". The government has also said it wants to simplify ticketing.
She also said Labour had no plans to close ticket offices.
Full article - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68889345