Woolas backs plea for trains

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas continues to push for more carriages to ease overcrowding for local rail commuters.

Mr Woolas met other Greater Manchester MPs and the integrated transport authority at a meeting in Westminster aimed at addressing the overcrowding problems.

The MPs agreed to call for more carriages — on top of the recent announcement of 18 additional carriages for the area.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas said: “We have seen a surge in rail travel in recent years, which is to be welcomed.

“However, the growth in the number of passengers has exceeded the number of seats available on the trains.

“New trains will be made available following the electrification of Liverpool to Manchester services, but we need extra carriages in the interim.

“Transport minister Lord Adonis has proved to be a friend of Manchester’s passengers already, but we will be asking him to do more.”

The meeting agreed to pursue an intensive lobbying campaign and to push for as many trains as possible to meet the shortfall.

Liberal Democrat MPs had attended an earlier meeting.

Mr Woolas added: “I’m pleased that this has all-party support. We must put the best case possible”.

Last week. Oldham councillor Richard Knowles, a regular rail user and geography professor at Salford University, criticised Mr Woolas for not yet travelling with his constituents on overcrowded trains despite a request for him to do so back in November.

Councillor Knowles, chairman of capital projects for GMITA, said Mr Woolas had not made time.

The Immigration Minister said the claims were completely untrue and he had not heard from Councillor Knowles or the constituent involved since the request.

He said: “I have not been contacted, but I will do this if I am contacted.

“I have written to Councillor Knowles and said I am familiar with the overcrowding myself as I always use our local services.

“In my reply to him I said there has been a huge investment in transport spending by this government.

“In my experience there is more demand for projects than there is funding and therefore that is why I want and welcome the agreement for a cross-party lobbying campaign so we can help my constituents and others.”