UK’s Most Crowded Trains: London Commuter Routes Dominate the List

In the UK, the most crowded trains have been identified, and almost all of them are London commuter routes, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

According to the Department for Transport, peak-hour trains passing through the capital often operate at more than double their capacity.

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In the autumn of 2023, a list of the 10 most crowded trains in England and Wales was compiled. Almost all of them are London commuter routes, except for the Cardiff Central train.

The leader is the 7:33 a.m. morning service from Bedford to Three Bridges, passing through London and Luton and Gatwick airports.

As the train approached St Pancras International, the number of standing passengers exceeded the number of available seats. The load factor reached a record 204%.

It is estimated that 537 passengers had to stand.

Thameslink representatives noted that their trains were originally designed with a higher number of standing spaces to maximize capacity on busy routes.

Since the survey, the operator has increased the number of carriages and introduced additional services to reduce the load.

In second place is the morning Chiltern Railways train from Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire.

At the final stage of the route, the number of passengers exceeds available seats by 65%.

The company has already added additional peak services and plans further train lengthening. Completing the top three is the train from Gloucester, which is most crowded on the section between Cardiff and Bridgend. After departing from the Welsh capital, its load reaches 162% of capacity.

South Western Railway’s train from Portsmouth Harbour to London ranks fourth. As it approaches London, its load reaches 157%.

The company plans to lengthen the train in December 2024.

The fifth most crowded train departs from London Euston to Crewe and belongs to London Northwestern Railway. It also suffers from high passenger numbers at the initial stages of the route.

Rail operators are taking steps to reduce overcrowding, including increasing the number of carriages and adding services.

However, the problem remains significant, particularly in London and its suburbs, where trains operate at the limit of their capacity.

Data shows that on regular midweek services, only 30% of seats are occupied, contrasting with peak-hour overcrowding.

Photo: Simon Calder, source: www.independent.co.uk

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