PLANS to try to block the controversial re-privatisation of the East Coast rail line have been dropped, Shadow Transport Secretary Mary Creagh has suggested.

Last year, Labour said it would seek to halt the sell-off – due to be completed just weeks before the May general election - in pre-election talks with the civil service.

It argued the fast-track timetable was a clear attempt to sabotage the policy of any incoming Labour government, which favours keeping the line in the hands of state-owned Directly Operated Railways.

Asked if Labour would still pursue a veto, Ms Creagh said it was “touch-and-go” whether the re-franchising – planned for March - would be completed before pre-election “purdah”.

She had “started access talks” with the civil service, a standard process with opposition parties to ease the switchover if the election is won, but declined to discuss them.

And she said: “I’m nervous about saying what I will, or won’t do, if the contract’s signed. Nobody has told me when the contract’s signed and once you start unpicking contracts…”

On the East Coast line, Ms Creagh added: “We have challenged it every step of the way – we had a big campaign last year to keep it public.”

The veto plan was announced by Maria Eagle, Ms Creagh’s predecessor as transport spokeswoman before last autumn’s reshuffle.