A funding boost for the modernisation of signalling on Britain's railways was revealed in the Autumn Statement.
Chancellor Philip Hammond said the Treasury will provide £450 million towards trialling so-called digital railway technology.
He joked that the funding would be welcomed by Jeremy Corbyn, after CCTV images were released in August appearing to show the Labour leader walking past empty unreserved train seats before he was filmed sitting on the floor complaining about "ram-packed" carriages.
The Chancellor said: "£450 million to trial digital signalling on our railways to achieve a step change in reliability and to squeeze more capacity out of our existing rail infrastructure.
"Something I know the Leader of the Opposition will welcome."
Digital rail signalling systems can allow trains to operate closer together, enabling more services to run without building new lines.
The technology is already used on high-speed TGV lines in France.
Chris Pike, development director for infrastructure at design and consultancy firm Arcadis, said the funding for digital railway trials would "take our country out of the Victorian era".
He went on: "It will totally revolutionise our railways, increasing capacity, improving the much-maligned experience of passengers and improving punctuality and safety.
"Recognising the benefit that rail digitalisation has had across Europe, it is our belief that the digital railway programme will keep the UK at the leading edge of the rail industry and will contribute substantially to increasing growth and productivity across the country."
