A GOVERNMENT announcement to increase the number of train carriages on the Bristol to London line through Yate has been welcomed in the town.

Under the plans announced by transport minister Theresa Villiers, First Great Western will be adding 48 extra carriages to morning and evening peak services creating several hundred additional seats.

The extra carriages will be made available from the summer next year and will lead to 588 seats on morning peak hour services between Bristol and London and a further 336 on evening peak services out of Paddington.

Thornbury and Yate MP Steve Webb, who has long campaigned for extra seats on trains in and out of Yate, welcomed the announcement.

Mr Webb, himself a regular commuter on the Great Western mainline, said: "Rail passengers will very much welcome this investment in extra carriages for peak hour First Great Western services. "Like many people, I regularly travel on peak-hour services which are standing-room only. These extra carriages will help more people to travel in comfort and are a further boost following the news of extra carriages for suburban services from Yate. "Coming on top of the confirmation of plans to electrify the Great Western mainline, this news is further evidence of the government’s commitment to invest in our public transport infrastructure."

Jack Lopresti, MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, also welcomed the news.

"This is great news for rail passengers in Filton and Bradley Stoke especially those who travel in peak times," he said. "This is one of the busiest rail routes in the country, so it is very welcome that we are investing in 4,500 additional seats each day into and out of London Paddington. It will also provide important support for economic growth."

First Great Western said the improvements would cost £29million.

Managing director Mark Hopwood said: "We've seen an ever increasing demand for travel on our services.

"This investment will deliver thousands of extra seats for customers across our network."