OVERCROWDING on morning rush hour trains into Manchester is among the worst in the country, new figures show.

Long-suffering passengers on First TransPennine Express services into Manchester must put up with carriages that are overfilled by seven per cent.

That figure has been rising for the past four years and only passengers travelling into London experience more packed trains.

The data — released by the Department of Transport (DfT) — covers journeys made in autumn last year.

The figures show an average of 21 per cent of customers using First TransPennine Express between 7am and 10am must make do without a seat.

Trains operated by Northern Rail are overfilled by four per cent — and 15 per cent of passengers are forced to stand during the same period.

Cllr David Chadwick, cabinet member for transport at Bolton Council, said: "They're doing their best in a bad situation.

"Neither train company is in a position to invest because these franchises are to be re-let next year for First TransPennine Express and Northern Rail.

"They don't want to spend money without having any concrete financial reassurance.

"I'm not saying it's acceptable for trains to be overcrowded but as far as I'm concerned I'm happy to stand on a crowded train into Manchester rather than pay £10 to £15 to park my car in Manchester all day and lots of other people do that as well."

Thousands signed our 'Let's Get Back on Track' petition last year demanding extra carriages and more value for money for Bolton commuters.

We delivered your demands to 10 Downing Street and Prime Minister David Cameron responded, promising 200 extra seats on rush hour trains.

Cllr Chadwick said the light at the end of the tunnel for Bolton's commuters was the now-delayed electrification of the Manchester to Bolton line which will allow for quicker and longer trains.

First TransPennine Express' customer service director Kathryn O’Brien said: "We accept that peak time services, along with many others, are often extremely busy.

"I commute by train to Manchester every day from Chorley and fully appreciate how crowded the journeys can be.

"The popularity of these services has been steadily increasing since we introduced 10 new electric trains along the Manchester to Scotland via Wigan route last year.

"However, this popularity means that these services are very busy.

"To try to alleviate some of the crowding issues we see, we are constantly reviewing our train plans and strengthening services where we can."

A Northern Rail spokesman said: “We’re running at full capacity in terms of trains — if they’re not carrying passengers they’re in the depots being maintained and we don’t have any more to put out there.

“The big thing we’re doing is electrification and Network Rail is electrifying the line between Manchester and Bolton to join up to Preston.

“Electric trains are bigger, hold more people and move people more quickly and will alleviate a lot of our busiest services.”