Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard today accused Rail Minister Chris Mole of passing the buck following a crunch meeting to discuss overcrowding on a train dubbed the “sardine express”.

He called for measures to force rail company Arriva Trains Wales to put on a minimum number of carriages at peak times on its Shrewsbury to Birmingham International service, which originates at Aberystwyth.

But the Tory MP was left disappointed after Mr Mole said it was the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly with devolved powers on transport to look into the problem.

The minister said that members of the Welsh Assembly would raise the issue with the train company and hear its response on the issue of overcrowding.

Wellington woman Louise Jenner fainted while on the train travelling from Telford to Wolverhampton after claiming that she had been packed like a sardine in the walkway of one of the carriages.

Speaking after this morning’s meeting, Mr Pritchard said: “I am disappointed the minister has passed the buck on the important issue of overcrowding to the Welsh Assembly government, which has devolved powers for transport.

“This is a cross-border transport issue and it falls on the doormat of English ministers too.

“I am concerned at the length of the Arriva Trains Wales franchise which appears to have no reference to ‘short-running’ of trains.

“There is no requirement to provide a minimum number of carriages.

“The company needs to put on more carriages more frequently, especially at peak times.”

Mrs Jenner passed out while on the rush-hour Shrewsbury to Birmingham International train last Tuesday morning.

She said she was shunted into the walkway of one of the two carriages, unable to move, and felt hot, sick and dizzy before fainting just outside Wolverhampton.

Mrs Jenner added that there had been no Arriva staff in sight and that she had been brought round by fellow passengers, who gathered her belongings together and gave her water.

Last June Mr Pritchard warned carriages were so congested on the Arriva Trains Wales service people could be injured or even killed if the trains were ever involved in a collision or forced to stop suddenly.

But an Arriva Trains Wales spokeswoman said “rigorous measures” were in place to prevent overcrowding on its trains.

By Wayne Beese