Rail companies are being asked to use a new system of traffic lights to inform passengers which services are crowded.

Norman Baker, rail minister, is hoping this new scheme will enable those travelling to make better decisions.

Mr Baker said the development aims to allow "passengers to make informed choices about which trains to travel on, and convincing those passengers who can change their travel patterns to do so".

It is hoped this will allow some to alter their journey routes and avoid some of the busier times. In some areas, it is not possible to increase the services to cope with added demand.

An example being used by Mr Baker is that of London Midlands. On stations servicing the busier London and Birmingham routes, a three coloured traffic light system is already in effect, indicating how busy each service is. Mr Baker states he is keen to follow this example nationwide.

The Department for Transport is also publishing statistics to show overcrowding in major cities across England and Wales. These will be accompanied by top ten lists outlining the most overcrowded services in the country.