Government U-turn on rail overcrowding pledge

THE Government has cut back promises to ease rail overcrowding, it was revealed today.

The rail White Paper, published in July 2007, pledged 1,300 extra carriages, but transport bosses have decided to reduce this to 973.

Only 423 have been ordered, with a further 550 due to be requested in the next two years. The shortfall is likely to hit Southern and Southeastern. It will save the Government £70million a year.

Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said it was a disgrace as passengers were already "struggling with sub-cattle-class overcrowding".

A Department for Transport spokesman said it would make up the shortfall with "around 1,200 new Thameslink carriages".