RAIL operators are adding thousands of extra seats to Liverpool Lime Street services to boost passenger capacity.

Northern Rail, which links the city with the North East and is run by Serco and Abellio, who also run the Merseyrail franchise, has introduced 50 additional carriages across its network through a Department for Transport rolling stock programme.

It will add seating capacity to 20% of Northern’s major urban centre peak-time trains.

Northern Rail regional director Lee Wasnidge said: “Overcrowding has been one of the biggest challenges we have faced, and one of the biggest causes of complaint for passengers.

“Thanks to the additional carriages, we will be providing 84,000 extra seats per year for Merseyside during the peak hours.

“We know that these extra carriages will not eradicate overcrowding, but will certainly provide significantly improved journeys for our customers from their introduction.”

The new services were waved off at Lime Street by transport authority chief executive and director general Neil Scales and chairman, Cllr Mark Dowd, who said: “Any additional capacity on the route is good news, and we continue to work hard with all our partners to secure better services into and out of this area.”

Northern re-opened the Allerton rail depot earlier this month, creating almost 50 new jobs, to maintain the extra rolling stock.