TIDWORTH and Ludgershall MP Claire Perry, has challenged the rail industry to find new ways of giving commuters more seats on busy trains.

Following the release of the latest crowding statistics last week, the Minister for Transport said: “Since 1995 passenger journeys on the railway have more than doubled, with 1.6 billion journeys recorded in the last year.

“This means that on too many journeys, passengers have to stand in cramped conditions.

“Train operators must act now, they must find new ways to create space on the network and in their trains.”

She added: “We are investing more than £38 billion in our railway, delivering more trains, more seats and more services, and we are pushing ahead with plans for a national high speed rail network that will help solve the problem in the long term.

“I understand the frustrations of rail passengers forced to stand on busy services and that is why I am calling on operators to do more.”