New figures have blown apart the case for re-privatising the successful East Coast rail line, Labour says.

They show the route – which links West Yorkshire and London – makes the second highest payment into Government coffers and requires virtually no overall subsidy, even taking track improvements into account.

East Coast runs a direct early-morning train from Bradford Forster Square to London, and a frequent service from Leeds to the capital.

Labour warned that the route’s strong performance would be put at risk under a private operator, given that the last two were forced to “hand the keys back” – at huge public cost.