Room to spare for sardine service

Long-suffering passengers on Mills Hill’s overcrowded rail services will get relief with fresh trains... from Scotland.

Scotrail is getting new German-built trains for its network and five of its old trains are being sent south.

As a result, the line from Leeds to Manchester Victoria through Mills Hill — one of the most overcrowded in Greater Manchester — will get second-hand trains.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: “Even at a time of severe pressure on public spending we cannot afford not to invest in Britain’s future — that’s why we are investing more than £10 million in providing these extra carriages.

“These will ease crowding and provide passengers with more comfortable journeys.”

Ian Bevan, managing director of Northern Rail said: “We are delighted with the announcement.

“These carriages will enable us to provide an extra 600,000 seats every year for passengers on peak time services.”

The extra carriages won’t enter service until December.