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Extra capacity for train passengers

01/02/2008

More than 300 extra train carriages are to be introduced on services run by rail operators in Manchester, according to the Department for Transport.

This represents the biggest allocation of new train carriages to a city-region outside London and the stock will be rolled out gradually until 2014.

First TransPennine Express has been allocated 42 carriages, while Northern Rail will be given 182. In addition, train services on the West Coast Mainline will be boosted by an extra 106 carriages.

The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority's chairman Roger Jones said: "We have a very real problem with overcrowding on trains in Greater Manchester - some services are running at 175 per cent capacity.

"So I'm delighted to hear we're going to get a share of more than 300 new carriages, which is the best allocation outside of London."

Last year, the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities submitted its controversial Transport Innovation Fund bid to the government, which would mean extra money for public transport as well as permission to establish a road toll scheme.