Putney MP Justine Greening has challenged the Government to use money gained from increased travel fares to improve the transport system.

Ms Greening's call for increased investment in the capital's transport network comes after Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly stated that passengers had seen real improvements in the infrastructure as a result of Government spending.

But she also admitted that without continued investment the transport infrastructure was a major barrier to the long-term growth of London.

Ms Greening said: "South London's stations, particularly the stations in my constituency have received little investment. Fares have increased across the board but investment has not.

"Although the Government claims money has been spent on the system, this is actually more like maintenance and running costs rather than actual investment on trains, tracks and platforms. It is far too little too late.

"For all their talk, the Government, has not delivered. Many commuters in Putney still have to get on to packed Tubes and trains every day and start their working day with a stressful and cramped journey," she said.

Tessa Jowell, Dulwich and West Norwood MP, conceded that massive investment was required but echoed the sentiments of the Government by asserting that the transport system copes with an enormous amount of commuters on a daily basis and suggested the problems had begun under the previous Tory Government.

Ms Jowell said: "After decades of neglect, investment in London's transport has been unprecedented in recent years, with another £10billion investment planned by the Labour Government and Mayor over the next 10 years.

"Of course, London's transport system needs improvement, but we should not lose sight of its achievement in allowing millions of Londoners to get around the capital.

"Six million people use London's buses and almost a million commuters come through London's railway stations every working day. And 2006 saw, for the first time, more than a billion Tube journeys in a year.

"Simple, practical changes - like accepting Oyster cards on overground trains from next year - will be widely welcomed in my constituency of Dulwich and West Norwood."