The Conservatives have been accused of hypocrisy for allowing another Boxing Day rail shutdown after attacking the Christmas closures when in opposition.

The shutdown of rail services across most of the country, forcing holidaymakers on to congested roads, comes ahead of another year of rail fare rises due to come into force on 2 January, when the price of regulated tickets will go up by 1%.

Most operators will be running no services on Boxing Day, with the rest running a reduced service.

Engineering works also mean there are some extended closures over the whole Christmas period, with no Gatwick Express services running for 10 days and Heathrow Express shutting for four days because of Crossrail works.

Ministers will be anxious to avoid a repeat of last year’s protracted rail disruption after holiday engineering works overran, causing misery for passengers especially at London Bridge and Finsbury Park.

Patrick McLoughlin, the transport secretary, recently threatened “dire consequences” if Network Rail allows the same to happen again. But Labour said ministers have no effective sanctions – such as the ability to fine the company – other than the power to sack its new chairman Sir Peter Hendy, who only took the role earlier this year.

A determination over whether Network Rail’s licence has been breached, and a decision on whether to impose fines, is taken by the independent Office of Rail and Road.

Lilian Greenwood, the shadow transport secretary, criticised McLoughlin for making empty threats about consequences when he had known for months that there was a possibility that the works would overrun.

“Network Rail is attempting an even more ambitious programme of works than in 2014 even after last year’s chaos at Finsbury Park and London Bridge, and it’s difficult to believe that the transport secretary has only just been made aware of the issue,” she said. “Instead of sabre-rattling he should heed the regulator’s warnings and address the growing safety concerns on our railways.”

In opposition in 2009, the then Tory shadow rail minister Stephen Hammond said Boxing Day could hardly be seen as a quiet period for travel and called for engineering works to be shifted to another time.

Jon Ashworth, a shadow minister without portfolio, said: “In opposition the Tories attacked the Boxing Day rail shutdown. They’ve now had more than five years to do something about it but haven’t. Their lack of action, even despite the chaos of last year, gives the impression they don’t really care about it at all. The Tory hypocrisy on this issue is astounding.”

On Christmas Eve, Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne said he was “acutely conscious” that people wanted to travel by train to see their families.

“Passengers have shown themselves to be incredibly understanding of planned improvement work and I’d like to thank them in advance for their support and understanding as we deliver the big improvements that the travelling public want to see.”

Claire Perry, the rail minister, said: “Network Rail and the operators are delivering essential improvements to the rail network over the Christmas period.

“I expect people working across the whole industry, both at Network Rail and train operators, to ensure that such works are properly planned and any impacts to services are communicated to passengers.”

The Department for Transport estimates that passenger numbers are down by 50% over Christmas, making it the most practical time of year to do engineering works.

Responding to Labour’s charge of hypocrisy, a source close to McLoughlin said: “Unlike when Labour were in power, we are delivering the largest programme of rail upgrades since the Victorian era, which will benefit passengers in the long-term.”