Date: 10/09/2013

Greater Manchester's busiest train operator has put the brakes on a traffic light warning system for overcrowded trains because services would be on red most of the time. Norman Baker, the rail minister, has written to train operators urging for each service to be marked up by a green, amber or red light to steer passengers away from the busiest services. His call comes in light of figures which show some rush hour trains are overloaded by 60 per cent. But on First TransPennine services, the traffic light indicator would spend much of its time on ‘red’. The firm’s routes in and out of Manchester are so overcrowded that at peak rush hour times nearly a quarter of passengers are forced to stand for journeys. Figures show the early morning train running from Manchester to Middlesbrough is the third most crowded in the country, after services from Heathrow to London Paddington and London Euston to Birmingham.

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First TransPennine boss puts a stop to warning light for overcrowded trains

Manchester Evening News

Norman Baker, the rail minister, has written to train operators urging for each service to be marked up by a green, amber or red light to steer passengers away from the busiest services.

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