A Thameslink morning rush hour service operating between Bedford and Three Bridges in West Sussex was identified as the most overcrowded train service in England and Wales last autumn. Department for Transport (DfT) figures show this service had a "load factor" of 176% at London St Pancras shortly after 08:00.
The second most crowded service was a West Midlands train from London Euston to Crewe, Cheshire, departing at 17:46, with a load factor of 170%. A Transport for Wales service from Bridgend to Rhymney was third, recording a load factor of 161%.
Overall, overcrowding on commuter trains serving major English and Welsh cities saw a slight decrease last autumn, marking the first fall since 2020. This reduction is attributed to an increase in capacity, with the DfT stating that seating capacity grew by 4% in the past year. The DfT also reported that 1.1% of peak-time travellers were on an overcrowded train, with an average of 16,800 passengers a day travelling in excess of capacity.
The DfT indicated that work is ongoing to improve capacity at peak-hour pinch points. A Thameslink spokesperson noted that their trains are designed with ample standing room on busy commuter routes and that they continually monitor services to provide more space.