IT MAY be seven years off but the Government's plans to put an extra 1,000 carriages on the railways should be welcomed. It may well be a case of too little far too late but at least it is progress.

The passengers who use Britain's overcrowded rail network, and especially those on the Bolton to Manchester "sardine special", will almost certainly welcome anything that helps them have a more enjoyable trip to work.

The Government has pledged an annual £130 million investment from 2009 but even this substantial amount is just a drop in the ocean of finance needed to get the railways working properly.

Since the shambolic privatisation of the railways and buses public transport has been in a mess. Until Government either nationalises or enters into a joint equal partnership with private companies, the rail network will remain unable to cope with even the current volume of traffic.

What is needed is a coherent and joined up national transport policy which makes public transport to everyone at a reasonable price, otherwise people will continue to use their own cars in ever increasing numbers.