SPACE for up to an extra 8,800 rail passengers is being created in Birmingham, Rail Minister Theresa Villiers has announced.

It comes as part of a bid to improve key commuter services across the country.

Under a deal funded by the Government, passengers on Northern Rail are to benefit from an extra 22 train carriages.

Separate agreements also deliver an extra six carriages to First Great Western and an additional four carriages to London Midland.

The extra carriages, which will be in service from December 2011, are becoming available as a result of the planned deployment of 69 new train carriages which are being delivered to London Midland for use in the Birmingham area.

This then allows for the carriages currently being used by London Midland to serve passengers using Northern Rail and First Great Western services.