OVERCROWDING on Bolton's crammed rush hour trains is getting worse, with up to 50 people standing on four out of five services.

Forty per cent more people travel between Bolton and Manchester today, compared to 2002, and peak trains through Bolton are running at 30 per cent above seating capacity.

But there have been fewer seats on many rush hour services since TransPennine Express introduced new trains last year. Commuters pack standard class carriages while first class seats remain empty.

Tony Fawthrop, of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Campaign, said: "We've got chronic overcrowding between Bolton and Manchester.

"It's pretty uncomfortable and a large number of people can't actually get on at some stations."

His group is calling for regional transport managers to provide extra carriages by buying or leasing rolling stock left "idle" since TransPennine Express updated its fleet.

However, while transport chiefs have pledged to include additional stock as part of their bid for cash to improve public transport ahead of the introduction of road charging, any funding seems a long way off.

The extent of the overcrowding was revealed in a report to Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority's network committee, which monitors rail operators' performance.

The authority's interim service delivery director Michael Renshaw said the introduction of the new Class 185 trains on the Cumbria/Blackpool to Manchester Airport route, through Bolton, had increased capacity and comfort during the day.

However, there are 40 fewer seats at peak times because the older trains ran with extra carriages.

Mr Renshaw said: "Considerable concern has been expressed to both TPE and the Department for Transport.

"The situation is being closely monitored and we will continue to press for additional capacity to be provided."

Studies in January showed people had to stand on 37 of 45 Bolton to Manchester morning peak trains, operated by both TransPennine Express and Northern Rail, and 43 out of 70 return services during the evening rush hour.

A TPE spokesman said: "We don't have any more trains to put into service. We have worked with our colleagues at Northern Rail to make sure the timetable provides as much capacity as possible."

He said the company, a branch of transport group First, had longer-term plans to secure Government funding to have extra carriages built to add to its fleet.

The spokesman said first class seating was only available to people with standard tickets if trains were "exceptionally busy" and said the new trains had more room for people to stand or store pushchairs and wheelchairs.

A Northern Rail spokeswoman said: "We've done all we can to meet the growing demand for our services."

She said passenger numbers had increased by 19 per cent across its network but the Department for Transport did not predict this growth when awarding its franchise and so had not provided funding for extra trains.

The regional Passenger Transport Executive's Strategy Director, Keith Howcroft, said officers were negotiating with Northern Rail the possibility of leasing extra carriages but that public investment would have to represent good value for money.

"We will also ask for funding for more rolling stock in Greater Manchester's July bid to the government's Transport Innovation Fund," he said.