More sardine service misery on the way

Oldham’s rail travellers are doomed to overcrowding for years to come because the Government refuses to buy any new carriages for diesel trains, say local transport chiefs.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis will get a letter before Christmas from Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) pleading with him to order more rolling stock now rather than wait for the electrification of the Manchester Victoria to Liverpool and Manchester to Bolton, Preston and Blackpool lines — which will not be complete until 2016.

The electrification will release some second-hand diesel carriages which are more than 20-years-old but does not fulfil the Government’s promise to provide 182 more rail carriages for Northern Rail and 42 more for TransPennine Express.

In the meantime, the daily grind of travelling packed like sardines and often being left behind on the platform for the next train will continue for rail passengers, especially on the most overcrowded diesel-operated lines to Manchester through Rochdale, Mills Hill, Greenfield and Ashton.

Oldham councillor Richard Knowles said: “As a daily rail commuter, I know how terrible these overcrowded trains are.

“It is not acceptable for people to be squashed like sardines on trains and even worse being left behind as the trains are full.

“The Government cannot be allowed to get away with letting down Greater Manchester and the North of England.

“It wouldn’t dare treat London like this.”