HOW Northern Rail has the bare-faced cheek to increase rail fares by 50p, I do not know.

The service between Bolton and Manchester is appalling.

Clapped out, dirty, uncomfortable Pacer coaches, passengers crammed in like sardines and the usual delays.

I recently experienced a 45-minute delay on a return journey to Manchester Oxford Road because there was no guard.

And where is this increased revenue going?

Into the pockets of the fat cat managers’ retirement payouts, I shouldn’t wonder.

The answer would be to put on more coaches and services or return the mess to public ownership and bring in the Germans, French or Dutch to run it.

They certainly know how to run their railways.

Bolton also deserves a Metrolink tram service to match other northern towns such as Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne, Altrincham, etc.

Mohammed Ismail
Caithness Drive
Ladybridge