A WATCHDOG committee has expressed concern after the number of seats on Virgin Trains from Manchester Piccadilly and Wigan North Western were reduced.

There has been a 24 per cent seating cut on trains from Manchester Piccadilly to Edinburgh and Glasgow and a 38 per cent reduction southbound towards Birmingham, Bournemouth and Brighton.

The decision to reduce the seating coincides with a commitment to introduce new rolling stock on Virgin Cross Country and Virgin West Coast routes.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority's Transport Network Committee will be monitoring the changes.