JEREMY CORBYN yesterday announced a bold plan for revitalising Britain’s railways under public ownership as his opponents rounded on each other.

The left-wing frontrunner pledged to introduce a new railways Act if elected in 2020 to progressively renationalise franchises, abolish private ownership of rolling stock, increase capacity and slash fares.

Mr Corbyn’s previously announced national investment bank would fund a wave of new infrastructure projects, including high-speed rail.

Mr Corbyn launched his strategy with passengers and rail unions at London’s King’s Cross Station yesterday after the Action for Rail pressure group revealed that fares had risen at three times the rate of wages in the past five years.

He also promised more accessible trains for disabled passengers and better conditions and involvement for workers.

“The privatisation of the railways fragmented our rail network, meaning the most expensive and confusing ticketing structures in Europe,” Mr Corbyn said.

“We need to rebuild an integrated publicly owned railway network that is run by the people, for the people.

“It is important for our economy, society and the environment that our railways are run in the public interest, not for private profit.”

The Islington North MP was introduced by Mick Whelan, who leads drivers’ union Aslef.

“Jeremy has been a breath of fresh air in politics this year,” Mr Whelan said. “He has got people excited about politics again.

“That’s why we are backing him for leadership of the Labour Party. Jeremy would be good for the party, good for the railways, and very good for Britain.”

Yvette Cooper launched an extraordinary attack on her fellow centrist candidate Andy Burnham, who on Monday attempted to appeal to Mr Corbyn’s supporters by saying that they had a place in Labour under a Burnham leadership.

“If he isn’t prepared to offer an alternative to Jeremy, he needs to step back and leave it to Yvette,” a spokeswoman for Ms Cooper said.

Mr Burnham’s team members insisted their candidate was still best placed to beat the leftwinger.F

ormer London mayor Ken Livingstone said that Mr Corbyn’s opponents were “behaving like a circular firing squad.”