The UK Government has announced a Rolling Stock Plan to increase capacity on Britain's rail routes, including 1,300 commuter train carriages.
As part of its proposals to improve and develop commuter and freight railways last year, a White Paper entitled Delivering a Sustainable Railway sets out plans to increase capacity to carry over 180m more passengers over the next seven years, a growth of more than 20 percent.
The Department for Transport says the Rolling Stock plan is a "major step forward" in meeting these goals.
The plan includes securing extra capacity through additional carriages and the redeployment of existing carriages to meet high demands at peak times.
The government is holding talks with UK rail provider Network Rail on extending platforms, depots and sidlings to accommodate longer trains, tackle overcrowding and deliver improvements for rail passengers, says Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly.
Britain's biggest rail union, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) says the plan must stipulate all new trains will be designed and built in Britain to help boost the country's economy.
"The government has an opportunity to bolster Britain's train-making skills and industry by ensuring that new trains for the Inter City Express Programme, Thameslink, and Crossrail, as well as the 1,300 new carriages being introduced to ease overcrowding, are built at home," the RMT says in a statement.
Passenger numbers in the UK have grown by 40 percent over the last decade, with more people travelling by train than ever before.
By Ozge Ibrahim
