TRANSPORT chiefs are demanding an end to overcrowded trains on the transPennine line.
They want rail companies to put more carriages on the busy services through Huddersfield.
Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority and its West Yorkshire counterpart are joining forces to campaign for more train carriages in the north of England.
The northern Passenger Transport Executives have been in dialogue with the Department of Transport for two years. Clr Keith Whitmore, Chair of GMITA, said: “The government has recently announced that it will review its plans to increase rail passenger capacity across the country.
“The National Audit Office report observes that the DfT’s latest plans have already taken into account the drop in demand due to the recession. This has led to the capacity being planned for the Leeds and Manchester areas being trimmed back by over a third.
“We will take this opportunity to campaign together for the extra train carriages that we desperately need in the north of England.
“This is not just a local issue, but a regional one, and it makes sense for us to work with our counterparts in West Yorkshire and across the north.”
Clr Ryk Downes, Chair of WYITA, said: “Many of the services that operate between West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester are already heavily overcrowded, and demand for rail travel continues to increase in both counties.
“Commuters in both areas are experiencing unacceptably crowded journeys on outdated rolling stock.”
