TRANSPORT bosses are at odds over the prime minister’s promise of more seats to improve Bolton's "scandalous" train situation.

Bolton North East MP David Crausby sat down with Northern Rail chiefs this week and claims they have “no idea” where David Cameron’s pledge to provide 200 extra spaces on Bolton services ever came from.

Mr Cameron penned a letter to The Bolton News in April committing to providing the extra seats on key morning commuter trains by the end of this year.

But last week Network Rail revealed that work to electrify the Manchester to Liverpool line, which is needed to free up rolling stock for the extra Bolton carriages, had been delayed until the new year.

Mr Crausby said he was told that Northern Rail cannot commit to any extra carriages until electrification is finished and that they do not know when this will be or how many spaces will be added.

He added: “If it has been delayed then the people of Bolton will want to know how long for.

“Northern Rail said they didn’t know where the figure of 200 came from but I find it hard to imagine the prime minister just made it up — someone is wrong.

“It is a scandal that no one knows this information — when it comes to fare increases they always know the exact date and how much extra they want out of us.”

He said he will attempt to raise the issue in prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, adding: “The situation is nowhere near good enough and I expect the prime minister to do something about this.

“He breezed into Bolton and made promises that he could not keep. He made a personal promise that our trains would be improved this winter and that is not going to happen.

“Somebody needs to take responsibility for this and give the people of Bolton some clear answers.”

The Department of Transport insisted that the figure of 200 seats was something they were still working towards.

A spokesman said: “As we have made clear, we understand the need for extra capacity for passengers in Bolton.

"We are fully committed to delivering this as a priority, and we are working with Network Rail and Northern Rail to make this happen as soon as possible."

A Northern Rail spokesman said: “Providing extra capacity on the Bolton corridor is a priority for us.

"However, all our trains are currently in use and it will be the introduction of electric trains between Liverpool and Manchester that will free up diesel trains needed to serve Bolton.”