Passengers using the train between Falmouth and Truro will find more room from next spring after operators First Great Western pledged to put an extra carriage on services following complaints of overcrowding.

The service has seen passenger numbers increase by 90 per cent since services were increased to half hourly in 2007.

The news of the extra carriage has been welcomed by town MP Sarah Newton, who took local capacity issues up with Rail Minister Theresa Villiers MP and made representations to Mark Hopwood, the managing director of First Great Western, drawing his attention to the severe overcrowding and requesting that action was taken to resolve the problem.

First Great Western have now signed an agreement with the Department of Transport which will secure an additional carriage for the Maritime Line, with First Great Western, Cornwall Council and the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership contributing to the funding required.

The extra carriage is due to come into operation in the spring of 2012 and is part of a wider effort by First Great Western and the Department of Transport to enhance rail capacity across the South West.

First Great Western now operate over fifty more vehicles across the region than specified in their franchise.

Mrs Newton said: “Since my election I have been highlighting the need to increase the capacity of local rail services, I am therefore delighted that First Great Western has worked with the Department of Transport, Cornwall Council and the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership in order to secure a much needed extra carriage on the Maritime Line.

“Once the carriage is in operation, all trains on the Maritime Line will consist of two carriages, reducing congestion and allowing the service to continue to grow”.