More bad news for rail passengers

Rochdale rail passengers hoping to escape the misery of overcrowded local trains were dealt a double blow yesterday.

Two train companies have been told that the number of extra carriages promised to them has been slashed in half without explanation, it was revealed.

Northern Rail will receive a maximum of 106 carriages, instead of the 182 it was promised a year ago, according to information passed to MPs.

And TransPennine Express — which had been allocated 42 more coaches — has now been told to expect 24, by the department for transport.

Between them, the two operators run services across Greater Manchester and all across the North.

The revelation that the badly-needed extra carriages will not be delivered triggered a furious reaction from MPs, who seized on it as further evidence that the North is losing out on rail investment.

Many are already angry that London is gaining the £16bn Crossrail project and the £5.5bn Thameslink improvement, while no major schemes go ahead anywhere in the North.

It will also hugely embarrass Gordon Brown who, just this week, claimed that a total of 1,300 carriages were already being delivered around the country.

Significantly, the claims were not denied by either of the rail companies, or by transport minister Chris Mole — who ducked the issue altogether in a Commons debate.

The 1,300 extra carriages were first promised two years ago, as a key plank of the Dft’s £10bn strategy to expand the rail network.

Blackley MP Graham Stringer said rail spending per head was now £783 in London — compared with £278-per head in the North West.

“The speed of many trains in the North of England system would have embarrassed Gladstone. They are slower than in the 1880s, which is extraordinary,” added Mr Stringer.

The Labour MP also called for Government assurances any trains removed from the Oldham loop line to allow for tram developments stay in the area.

Mr Mole failed to answer any questions about the number of extra carriages — despite being repeatedly urged to explain the situation.

Northern Rail said talks were continuing and that “no final decision has been reached”, while TransPennine Express said “discussions are on-going at present.”