New data from the Department of Transport (DfT) shows that some commuter trains into central London are operating at more than 170 per cent capacity. This means a quarter of passengers are forced to stand during peak hours.
A Thameslink morning rush-hour service between Bedford and Three Bridges, recorded at London St Pancras just after 8am, was 176 per cent full. The second busiest train was a West Midlands service from London Euston to Crewe, which was 170 per cent full when departing Euston.
Other crowded services in the top 10 included a Transport for Wales service from Bridgend to Rhymney, South Western services from Fareham to London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo, and a Thameslink service from Epsom to London Bridge.
The DfT stated that work is underway to improve capacity at peak hour pinch points. GTR has added carriages to its busiest commuter services, and South Western Railway has increased capacity by nearly 30 per cent in the last year with new trains. Timetable changes are also being introduced across the network, with nationalised operators adding 76,000 extra seats per week.