Duo to take rail views on board

Woolas and Knowles will meet passengers

A battling commuters’ champion is taking an MP and a rail expert to meet frustrated passengers on overcrowded trains.

Eileen Smith, of Springhead, has highlighted the headaches by keeping a log of journeys to Manchester by bus and rail after the closure of the Oldham loop-line.

On one journey from Lees, the bus made 44 stops before reaching the city.

Polls carried out by Oldham’s Tory councillors at Chadderton’s Mills Hill Station found one morning rush-hour train was cancelled twice. And of the four trains which did run, an average of 71 passengers found there was standing room only.

Councillor Jack Hulme said: “On one 7.37am service the guard refused to allow people to board due to overcrowding. In total, 86 passengers were left behind.”

Mrs Smith has got Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, and transport expert, Councillor Richard Knowles, from Greenfield, to meet commuters.

They have been at loggerheads since Mr Woolas accused Councillor Knowles of “whinging” about on-going issues.

Councillor Knowles sent an angry letter to the MP saying the Government’s commitment was for 1,300 extra rail carriages nationally before 2014 to ensure overcrowding was at least no worse than last year.

Mrs Smith said: “Instead of falling out, everyone should be trying to resolve these problems. There is just no let up in the daily misery for rail travellers.

“Despite extra carriages on peak-time journeys, trains are packed to the doors. Travelling, whatever time of day, can be a nightmare.

“There are often rows between passengers because of the frustration of being packed in like sardines.”

Mr Woolas, who has been in discussions with Transport Minister Lord Adonis about the problems, said: “I will be delighted to join Mrs Smith and Councillor Knowles on a train journey to meet passengers.

“We need more people in the public arena to highlight these problems to ensure they can bring pressure to see them resolved.”

Councillor Knowles added: “I use the railways every day and I am more than happy to travel with Mrs Smith and Mr Woolas to discuss issues with fellow travellers.”