PASSENGER NUMBERS ON BLACKPOOL TO MANCHESTER RAIL SERVICES

That this House notes the difficulties of overcrowding experienced by commuters using the Blackpool to Manchester rail service; recognises that this problem has a knock-on effect on rail users in rural areas and smaller villages as trains do not stop at such stations in order to increase their capacity for busier stations; welcomes the proposals being put forward by rail operators to increase the number of rail services in addition to increasing the number of units per train to help accommodate the increased demand, but recognises that this new capacity will not come on stream for at least three years; and calls on the Government to work with the rail operators to lease additional trains and rolling stock as a short term measure to help ease overcrowding before the proposed increased capacity comes into operation.