An MP has urged the government to help Chiltern Railways to tackle ‘persistent’ overcrowding on trains in Buckinghamshire.  

The Buckingham MP Greg Smith called on the government to help Chiltern Railways tackle capacity problems on its trains. 

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, October 26, Mr Smith said overcrowding persisted “particularly at rush hour and on weekends.”

“The long term solution is whole fleet renewal. But there are some short term fixes that Chiltern are asking for, such as being permitted to bring their extra sets of Class 68s back into use," he said. 

Bucks Free Press: The Conservative MP for Buckingham Greg SmithThe Conservative MP for Buckingham Greg Smith (Image: File image)

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Mr Smith asked the Rail Minister Huw Merriman to assure that he’s doing “everything possible” with Chiltern to improve rail services for his Buckingham constituents.

A Chiltern Railways spokesperson said in a statement: “We are determined to provide an easier, greener and better experience for our customers by 2030.

“Replacing our ageing diesel fleet with new, environmentally-friendly trains is at the heart of our Right Route vision. This is needed to unlock essential benefits including more capacity and better quality for customers, improved air quality for all, and to support economic growth.

“We are looking forward to working with partners to make a strong economic case for the necessary investment to make our 2030 vision possible.”