MORE carriages will be put on trains running through Bolton — after a deal was struck between the government and rail operators to combat overcrowding.

An extra carriage — equivalent to 120 seats —will be put on half of First Transpennine Express services between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport from May, benefitting passengers from Bolton.

But the borough’s transport professionals warn that while more seats will help address overcrowding on the town’s "cattle truck" railways, the new units will be older, more likely to break down and less comfortable.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport (DFT) confirmed that the new trains will be in addition to the 200 extra seats promised by prime minister David Cameron after The Bolton News’ Let’s Get Back On Track campaign.

Announcing the deal, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said improving rail services across the north was vital for passengers and the economy.

The latest plan comes after rolling stock leasing company Porterbrook decided to move trains running on the Transpennine route to the Chiltern franchise across London and the home counties, prompting outrage from trains campaigners in March last year.

The DFT and rail companies have agreed that when the Manchester to Liverpool railway line is electrified, Transpennine will sub-let six carriages from Northern Rail to be used on their services between Manchester stations and Blackpool.

The new class 156 carriages can be joined together in pairs, meaning the number of units can go up from three class 185 carriages to four.

But they are also at least 10 years older than the current class 185, which will still run on half the services, and will not have a first class carriage or a catering trolley.

Cllr David Chadwick, Bolton Council's cabinet member in charge of transport, warned the good news about extra capacity will not mean passengers have a better experience.

He said: “The class 156 doesn’t have first class facilities, which will cause a problem for season ticket holders who have paid for it.

“And because FTPE are leasing the 156s off Northern Rail, they do not have the wherewithal to maintain them, as they haven’t got the supplies.

"I do not criticise FTPE in any way, shape or form — they are going to go with the hand that the government have dealt them.”

Liberal Democrat councillor David Wilkinson echoed the worries of Cllr Chadwick.

He said: “Physically there will be more bums on seats. These carriages are not going to be fully refurbished — it will be a case of make do and mend.

“As someone who uses the railways and as a passenger there are issues in that these will be old trains and even more increase in passenger numbers.

“When you compare investment on the railways in the north compared with the south of England and London, it’s chicken feed.”

A spokesman for Transpennine said: “We recognise that the change of type of train that will operate some services between Blackpool and Manchester via Bolton is not ideal, but does represent the best possible short-term solution for the whole of the north of England.

"We can confirm that the class 156 trains will have two toilets on board, increased luggage and cycle storage and, importantly, 120 extra seats.

"This extra capacity is something that customers tell us all of the time is a key priority."