Travel

The passenger campaign group TrainSardine.org said that East Midlands Trains regularly forced peak time passengers to cram in like ‘sardines’ by sending two carriage trains instead of four.

Campaign: 'Don't treat us like sardines'

"We are sick of the excuses given to explain the shortage of carriages and overcrowded at rush hour," snarled the campaign’s poster. "We are frustrated with the inability of anyone to sort the problem, poor communication and lack of respect."

The group also claimed that the 'half size' trains between Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Norwich resulted in severe overcrowding forcing many passengers to stand with some left on platforms, making them late for work.

Fishy

Commuter Dave Marshall from Liverpool came up with the idea for the quirky though fishy demonstration.

Protest: David Marshall

Accusing the train company of flouting the law, he described the moment he decided that enough was enough:

"I think the final straw was seeing disabled people - especially the guy with the guide dog standing on the platform - unable to get to work," he said.

"We have a real concern that there isn't equal access to rail travel and East Midlands have a responsibility under the law to provide such access."

'Improvements'

East Midlands Trains said it was working to improve the service.

East Midlands Train

"We are aware that improvements need to be made on the route and are taking steps to increase seating and increase carriages from two to four at the busiest times," a statement said.

Problems have existed on the route for years with overcrowding on the service run by Central Trains before it was taken over by East Midlands in November 2007.

Dave Marshall added that, by sending short trains instead of cancelling services, East Midlands Trains was avoiding sanctions at the expense of its customers and urged them to join the protest.

"We're hoping that passengers will contribute to the debate and force East Midlands to improve the service."

Your comments:

David Hamilton in Astley

I use this service every evening coming back from my work place in Sheffield to Stockport and have done so for several years. I and many of my travelling companions complained to Central trains and eventually things improved and they started sending 4 or even 5 carriages. Then East Midlands took over and we were back to two again. When I complained I was told they did not have enough carriages. Well if that is the case why did they get the franchise?  Its a bit like me offering to give 6 of my colleagues a lift to work but only having a two seater. Stupid !. Bye the way I get off at Stockport and I realise its ten times worse for people who try to use it between Manchester and Liverpool.

Tracey G in Salford

And these company's want us out of our cars and onto public transport - i'd rather sit in traffic in my car and at least have some 'space' around me than face that train journey every morning!

Matt Roberts in Manchester

I have used this service on the weekend and it's always packed, unless you are one of the first 10 to board the train at Manchester you don't get a seat doesn't matter what time of day it is. Luckily, I can catch the train running from Doncaster to Manchester Airport which is run by First who have added seats and I have never not found an empty seat on that train since they added more seats. The trains they are using at the moment for the Norwich journey are simply too small, I'd have expected at least four  carriages if not more but two, it's pointless trying to get a seat because you are not going to get one.