Our campaign to improve Bolton's overcrowded trains goes to Downing Street

Almost 1,500 of you signed our petition calling for an end to overcrowding and more carriages for fed-up commuters.

I handed in the petition yesterday, alongside Bolton’s three MPs.

The MPs then met Department for Transport bosses to discuss a solution to the problem of Bolton’s “cattle truck” trains.

David Crausby, MP for Bolton North East, said he was delighted to have been a part of the campaign — but added that it does not stop here.

He said: “A lot done, a lot to do. I think we have completed the first part successfully in delivering the petition to Downing Street, to make David Cameron aware again about how we feel about this issue in Bolton, which has been going on for too many years.”

Bolton West MP Julie Hilling said: “The campaign so far has been great and it has been brilliant to present the petition.

“However, the battle has only just started. We have got to continue to keep the pressure on the Department for Transport, otherwise they will continue to make decisions that benefit the South instead of the North.”

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, added: “I think it has been a brilliant campaign by The Bolton News and it has been a pleasure to work with the campaign.

“It’s a shame that, after so many years, we are in the same situation. Passenger numbers have doubled, yet the number of trains has stayed the same. Something needs to change.”

Ian Savage, editor-in-chief of The Bolton News, said: “We are a campaigning newspaper at the heart of the community and we have had to fight for improvements to the appalling rail conditions endured by commuters travelling between Bolton and Manchester.

“We have made sure our readers’ concerns continue to be heard by organising, and now delivering, our Let’s Get Back On Track petition.

“However, this is not where the campaign ends — we will keep fighting for better rail services for Bolton people.”

You can read Elaine's live blow-by-blow coverage here.