Plea for more carriages on trains

JOHN Gulliver, a regular commuter from Barnstaple, says he regularly travels on packed trains with more than 200 passengers and people standing in the aisles.

Many believe the easiest way to alleviate overcrowding would be to add a third carriage to what is currently a two carriage service.

Mr Crow said: “The main issue here is the availability of rolling stock (available trains and carriages).

“The Government’s Department for Transport (DfT) specify the amount of stock available to us and we have already had to increase this dramatically across the South West.

“Basically there is a national shortage of rolling stock and we have no spare carriages to add to this service. If we did, we would use it.

“However, last week the Government announced plans to introduce electric trains on certain lines across the country. As this rolls out over the next four years, more rolling stock will become available.”