Overcrowding on the capital's busiest rail routes could be eased under government plans to introduce an extra 1300 train carriages with 100000 seats across the country's rail network.

Almost 600 carriages will go to London and the South-East, while more than 300 will be sent to Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester.

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly claimed the extra carriages would increase the amount of rolling stock by 10 per cent.

She said the extra capacity 'will be secured through additional new carriages and through re-deployment of existing carriages which will mean longer vehicles can run on busy routes and at peak times'.

Figures show passenger numbers have grown by 40 per cent over the last decade, so that more people than ever before are travelling by train.

"The Government is investing £10bn to increase capacity on the railways benefiting those travelling on the busiest routes in cities like Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester and London," she said.

Kelly also said detailed discussions with Network Rail and train operating companies will continue and proposals assessed "to ensure plans deliver value for money to both passengers and taxpayers."