Labour pledges to simplify rail tickets as research reveals 'thousands out of pocket' from wrong advice

The move comes as Which? magazine reported that poor advice about fares means some passengers are paying well over the odds.

Ms Kelly told Labour's Bournemouth conference today: "I will make sure that tickets will be simpler and easy to use and people can be confident they are getting the right ticket at the right price."

She promised to give councils stronger powers over bus services which she conceded were "not good enough" in many areas.

Proposals for simplified fares were first outlined in the Government's rail white paper, including four clear categories for fares and an industry price promise to offer the cheapest fare or refund the difference.

Ms Kelly, who is leaving the conference by train rather than ministerial car, said travel patterns must change, warning: "We simply can't build our way out of road congestion, so let us have the debate on road pricing."

According to Which?, only about half of 25 questions put to rail staff or the rail helpline were answered correctly.

If they'd followed the advice, passengers would have been £1,263.60 worse off.

The National Rail Enquiries helpline managed to get ten out of 25 right while station staff managed 15.

Which? quotes the following examples:

• Asked for the price of a single ticket from London to Grantham, Lincolnshire, the helpline recommended GNER's £44.50 fare, though Hull Trains left ten minutes earlier for £20.

• A journey from Southampton to Bristol then Birmingham was quoted by the helpline at £91 because it calculated the legs separately. The real price was £48.

• A return journey from Swindon to Penzance twice in the same week was quoted by station staff at £134 total. They forgot to recommend a rover ticket for £70.

Investigators said train advice lines often failed to tell passengers about cheap fares available just outside the peak times.

They noted that "particularly poor advice" was given when they asked for the cheapest day return between Winchester and London, arriving by 10am.

NRAS and staff at Winchester station quoted £43.40. But a service arriving only eight minutes later cost £27.40.

Which? points out that railways received £6.3billion subsidy last year and comments: "At the very least, this level of public support demands that staff provide accurate information about cheap tickets."

Ms Kelly also derided David Cameron's eco-credentials, telling delegates the Tory leader was "desperately trying to appeal to everyone and finding he is increasingly appealing to no one".

Mr Cameron had no clear values or vision, she argued, adding: "We reject the Tories' false choice - that as a nation we can either be 'rich and dirty' or 'poor and green'.

"This isn't an either/or question. We don't have to choose between tackling global warming and supporting economic growth."

Tackling climate change was the "real pro-growth strategy", Ms Kelly said.

"This means giving people the right incentives to make greener choices.

"Enabling individuals to choose how to reduce their own carbon footprint.

"Not telling them, as the Tories do, that they can't take cheap breaks - that flying should once again be the preserve of a privileged elite."