Fury over ‘sardine specials’

Experts have reacted furiously to the Government’s “carry on crushing” message to North-West rail commuters.

Extra train carriages were promised to relieve the “sardine specials” which carry workers daily in and out of Manchester but now Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has ordered a review after the National Audit Office said the growth in rail travel had been overestimated.

But the passengers’ champion TravelWatch North-West described the announcement as a blow for long-suffering rail passengers in the region.

And Roger Jones, director of the North-West Rail campaign even called for high-speed rail plans to be put on hold in favour of spending on more train carriages to ease overcrowding.

The Department for Transport’s review of its spending plans follows claims by the National Audit Office that demand for rail travel has not risen as much as expected.

But Travelwatch North-West chairman Chris Dale said: “Whatever the situation in the South-East, which appears to receive the Department for Transport’s predominant attention, rail travel continues to grow in the North-West and overcrowding is a major problem.

“Numerous examples of excessive overcrowding on inadequate trains have been witnessed in all parts of the region as passenger numbers have grown as well as many incidents of passengers being left on stations because trains are so full.”

He added: “Things are going from bad to worse — I understand that there are more overcrowded trains in our region than anywhere else in the UK.”