THE under-strain South West rail network stands to get just eight new carriages to cope with fast-growing passenger numbers over the next eight years.

The Government has already announced only 52 of the 1,300 carriages to be introduced nationwide in 2010 will be allocated to First Great Western, which operates services across the South West and to London.

But analysis by the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) shows the real number of carriages dedicated to the South West will be in single figures.

Twenty carriages are destined for First’s operations in London and the Thames Valley, according to the agency, while a further 24, currently on hire from other train operators, have to be returned in 2010.

That leaves just eight new carriages – or four trains – to serve a network which has seen a 15 per cent increase in passenger numbers in the past 18 months.

Geoffrey Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon, said the South West already suffers “pathetically inadequate rolling stock”.

The Conservative MP added: “If the Government seriously thinks eight carriages over the next eight years is sufficient additional supply for the whole of the South West network, it simply confirms they haven’t the slightest interest in the transport issues facing our region.”

The RDA has already argued its case in a letter to Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon.

Pat Steward, head of planning and transport at the agency, said: “We know that the region needs a lot more trains to meet existing demand and cope with further growth.

“We have written to Geoff Hoon and said we can see what’s coming.

“We are expecting eight carriages out of the 1,300 and that is simply not good enough.

“We are reasonably asking for 44 brand new carriages – effectively 11 new trains – to serve the Cardiff to Portsmouth route.

“If we get the right number of carriages on that route that will release other stock to cascade down throughout the region.

“That will mean more trains for services around Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Truro and Torbay.

“The simple fact is that we need better trains and we need them now. At the moment, we have got some pretty old and tatty trains and people don’t like them.

“First has really improved, is doing as much as it can and is operating really efficiently within the limits they have. We need to stretch those limits and it is on the Department for Transport (DfT) to do that.”

In February, the Government threatened First with losing the Great Western franchise because of overcrowding, punctuality and reliability problems.

However, the company is widely regarded to have made significant improvements in recent months.

Critics, while not absolving First completely, have attacked the Government’s “micro-management” of the rail system.

Neill Mitchell, chairman of the South West Chambers of Commerce, said the root of the problem was civil servants’ vice-like grip on rail operators.

“The department dictates what will happen,” Mr Mitchell said.

“Train operators like First have to operate it. There is very little discretion and very little room for manoeuvre. If the DfT lay down the law we will be at the end of the queue for rolling stock.”

Mr Mitchell warned the “severe” overcrowding on the cross-country franchise would be mirrored on South West services without a significant increase in rolling stock.

“That will also apply to the Great Western franchise, peak times are already busy and it will get worse,” he said. “It’s a creeping cancer.”

Nick Buckland, vice chairman of the RDA, said it was mobilising the Regional Assembly, local authorities, MPs and business to create an effective lobby for the South West.

“We have got to get it up the agenda at the DfT to make sure that the strategic importance of rail transport to the region is understood,” Mr Buckland said.

“We are not going to them with a long list, we have prioritised what we need.”

A spokesman for the Department for Transport wouldn’t comment on the figures put forward by the South West RDA.

He said: “Ensuring passengers have a positive experience and travel safely and in comfort on the railway network is one of our main priorities and this will continue to play a key part in our ongoing discussions with First Great Western about the allocation of rolling stock.”