Shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh was left in no doubt that members backed renationalisation during the conference rail debate.

She decried the Tories determination to hand publicly run East Coast to their privateer pals — pointing out it will deliver £1 billion in profits to the Treasury by next March.

And Ms Creagh set out Labour’s commitment to allow Britain’s public rail operator to compete with privateers to run lines.

“We will put the passenger back at the heart of the railway, not the profit motive,” she promised.

Official party policy pledges a Labour in power will “review the government’s failed franchising process” and “end the exclusion of the public sector.”

But many members demanded a more ambitious approach to ending Britain’s rail franchising fiasco.

They rose twice in a standing ovation during a stirring speech by rail union TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes.

He told them: “When so much power is concentrated in so few, social justice will remain a utopian dream unless public ownership is part of our strategy.

“That is why I want you to join us, the millions of people in our country who are clamouring for public ownership of our railways.

“And while we’re at it let’s bring water and energy into public ownership too.”

Mr Cortes said the Scottish referendum campaign proved voters were “sick to the back teeth” with the Westminster consensus.

“Ed as prime minister will have a once in a generation, perhaps a once in a lifetime chance, to confine the Thatcherite, neoliberal consensus to where it belongs — the dustbin of history,” he added.

Darlington delegate Helen Crombie called on Labour to bring lines under public ownership as franchises expire during the next Parliament.

She said: “By running the railways in public hands, the profits realised can be used to reduce fares and help Labour win marginal seats across the country.

“Public ownership is popular and a vote-winner.”

Rail union RMT labelled the party’s current policy a “total cop out.”

Newly elected general secretary Mick Cash said: “The only workable solution is to take the whole lot back under public control full stop.”

lukejames@peoples-press.com