The number of train journeys on services owned abroad has more than doubled in a decade in Britain, figures show.
Around 61% of journeys are with franchises owned by overseas firms or governments, compared with 29% in 2011.
Labour said it means passengers are helping to fund railways abroad, describing the situation as “perverse”.
The number of nations with a stake in our railways rose from five to eight in the same period.
Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said: “The Tories clearly have no problem with public ownership of rail as long as those contracts are owned by other countries.”
The majority of rail services here are operated under fixed-term franchises. Train companies submit bids to run franchises, and the Department for Transport selects which applicants are successful.
The DfT said contracts are awarded through “rigorous, fair and open competition” to bidders offering “the best deal for passengers and the taxpayer”.
It added: “Since privatisation, passenger numbers have more than doubled. We have one of the highest satisfaction levels and safest networks in Europe.”
Paul Plummer, the boss of industry body the Rail Delivery Group, said competition brings “unprecedented investment”.
Rail fares will rise by an average of 2.7% from tomorrow.
Rail Maritime and Transport union general secretary Mick Cash said it is “a scandal” the price increases will be “siphoned off in profits by overseas operators to subsidise their domestic operations”.
