Chief warns of chronic overcrowding without more stock

linking Leeds, Bradford, Hull, Scarborough, Doncaster, Sheffield and Barnsley.

Northern Rail says increasing capacity is the key to easing overcrowding. Labour promised 182 carriages – many of which would have been handed down from other routes rather than being new – but only eight have been delivered. A promise of 1,300 carriages across the country was scaled down when ministers decided to electrify more lines, baulking at spending large sums on carriages for diesel trains that would soon become redundant.

Now the coalition is discussing its options ahead of the spending review unveiled on October 20, when the Department of Transport is likely to be ordered to make severe cuts.

Mr Butcher said overcrowding was now the “major source of complaint” to the company which has seen its capacity rise by just 11 per cent since it was set up in 2004, while passenger numbers have risen 34 per cent.

“We also need to improve the quality of our trains. I don’t think anyone can sit here – I'm certainly not going to sit here – and lie to you, the quality of our trains certainly needs improving,” he added.

“Some of our fleet, when I joined the railways 30 years ago, were being tested and introduced and fed into the industry. That makes me think we have to do something now - and I mean now - in taking this forward.” He said the company is waiting for the outcome of the spending review to find out how many more carriages might be forthcoming.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: “We’re looking at a whole range of things including extra rail carriages needed and, high-speed lines.”