RAIL passengers are urged not to get left behind.

John Oates, chairman of the Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association, said: “At this time of year travellers would do well to plan their trips to avoid busy trains, some of which are so full in the Manchester direction that passengers are left behind at Knutsford, Mobberley, Ashley and Hale.

“Times to avoid include Saturdays between 10am and 1pm, especially when there are football matches at United or City.

“Similarly, trains back from Manchester, Stockport and Altrincham between 5pm and 8pm can be very full and leave people behind.

“No-one is happy with this situation. We’d like to see longer trains and more frequent trains.

“We know Northern Rail is restricted to using the trains allocated to it by the Department for Transport, and that on Saturdays they run every train they have that isn’t undergoing maintenance.

“Planning to avoid these busy trains will less likely lead to frustration at very cramped journeys, or even worse, being unable to board trains.

“Meanwhile, we are doing all we can to make sure this is addressed in the new Northern franchise due in April 2014.”