OVERCROWDED trains and platforms in Manchester have been blamed by Liberal Democrat MPs for causing congestion on the roads.

At a fringe meeting organised by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, MPs criticised rail services for failing to attract people out of their cars.

Mark Hunter, MP for Cheadle, said: "People need to see improvements if they are to be enticed onto rail."

John Leech, MP for Withington, said there was a bottleneck at Piccadilly station and they had to consider longer trains and reopening old lines.

He said people should be persuaded to travel to the continent by train.