A new report by the Public Accounts Committee suggests that the problem of overcrowding on the UK’s rail networks is set to get worse over then next few years. Although the government claims it will be unveiling its plans to tackle the issue within a few weeks, the MP’s report points out that the Department for Transport will not be able to hit proposed targets for increasing the number of seats on trains.

The report also says that the rail travelling public was right to start wondering where exactly the money from increasing rail fares was being spent.

Although the DfT has committed to a five-year spending plan worth £9 billion, the Public Accounts Committee report says it will have to start looking at other solutions; not just increasing the length of station platforms and adding more carriages to trains. The report points out that such a solution is not sustainable.

The committee has asked the DfT to start collecting data which will show where the worst affected and most overcrowded services are running. It has also asked for the implementation of more smart cards so data would be available to operators so they can tackle the problem during peak travel times.

Margaret Hodge, chairwoman for the committee, said a new system of making network operators accountable to the paying public is needed as Britain currently runs some of the world’s most inefficient services.

RMT union general secretary, Bob Crow, lashed out at the operators saying they were making themselves rich at the expense of passengers who are paying a fortune for out-of-date, overcrowded carriages.