YESTERDAY I was invited by rail firm Northern to take a trip on one of the first electric trains to run through Bolton.

While the trains are not wholly new – they were manufactured around 30 years ago – passengers can expect a marked improvement on the Pacers that have been commonly seen in town over the last few years.

The Class 319 units are quieter than their diesel-powered counterparts and seem to offer a smoother and more comfortable journey.

However, those passengers who regularly commute out of Bolton will ask whether these new vehicles will continue to be as packed and unreliable as previous editions.

Northern says they have provided a capacity upgrade, with around 20 more seats on each set of four carriages compared to the average train out of the borough.

In addition, they will be used mainly on commuter routes, with around 30 percent of Preston to Manchester Victoria journeys already run by 319s and half of those between Manchester and Buckshaw Parkway.

More are also set to be brought into service. Northern have around 30 of these trains, which are mostly used between Manchester and Liverpool, and say they intend to introduce them in phases onto lines through Bolton.

Check The Bolton News’ website for a video showing a trip on the new trains from Lostock Station to Bolton Interchange from the cabin of a Class 319 train.