Residents who use local rail services will be aware how overcrowded they are.

Now we hear that the Government is to cut support for rail services in Greater Manchester by £8 million a year from October 2009.

We had also been promised that the Government would order 182 new rail carriages for Northern Rail – now we hear that the order is to be cut by over 40% to just 106.

The Oldham loop line is to close to allow it to convert to Metrolink. The 5 trains that werre on that line were due to remain in Greater Manchester to help relieve congestion elsewhere (including on lines running through Bolton). Now we hear that the Government will only allow these trains to remain if we pay leasing charges.

Local Liberal Democrats have asked the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority to lobby MPs to try to get these decisions changed.