Crowding Getting Worse

24 July 2013, 12:00 | Updated: 24 July 2013, 12:07

One of the most crowded trains in England and Wales is now even more crowded, according to new figures.

New figures compiled in autumn 2012 found the 18.13 London Midland service from Euston to Birmingham New Street carried close to twice as many passengers as there are seats.

The train calls at stations including Leighton Buzzard, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Wolverton, Northampton and Long Buckby.

The train is designed to carry 698 passengers, but in total it had 1,149 on board.

Similar research in spring 2012 found 1,104 passengers on board the train.

Transport Minister Norman Baker called on the rail industry to continue its work to tackle congestion on trains following the publication of the latest train crowding statistics.

He said: “Climbing on to a very crowded train is an unpleasant experience and I sympathise with passengers using these services.

“I urge train operators to do what they can on these particular trains. The Department is working closely with the industry to ensure this issue is tackled.

“Strong transport links provide economic benefits. This is why Coalition Government is doing its part investing record amounts to transform the rail network - electrifying more than 800 miles of track, purchasing state-of-the-art rolling stock for the Great Western, Thameslink, Southern and East Coast routes and delivering a new high speed network through HS2 but we all need to pull together.”

The lists show the busiest services in England and Wales during spring and autumn last year.

Spring 2012
1. 07:44 service from Henley on Thames to London Paddington – load factor 184%
2. 07:14 service from Didcot Parkway to London Paddington – load factor 173%
3. 16:48 London Euston to Birmingham New Street – load factor 166%
4. 18:08 London Bridge to Wimbledon – load factor 159%
5. 18:13 London Euston to Birmingham New Street – load factor 158%
6. 07:14 Alton to London Waterloo – load factor 156%
7. 07:17 Banbury to London Marylebone – load factor 154%
8. 07:10 Haslemere to Waterloo- load factor 152%
9. 18:18 London Paddington to Oxford – load factor 150%
10. 07:32 Woking to London Waterloo – load factor 149%

Autumn 2012
1. 08:27 Heathrow T1, 2, 3 to London Paddington – load factor 165%
2. 18:13 London Euston to Birmingham New Street – load factor 165%
3. 06:23 Manchester Airport to Middlesbrough – load factor 162%
4. 18:00 London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour – load factor 161%
5. 07:17 Banbury to London Marylebone – load factor 158%
6. 06:19 Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone – load factor 155%
7. 07:32 Tattenham Corner to London Bridge – load factor 154%
8. 06:15 Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo – load factor 150%
9. 07:09 Henley-on-Thames to London Paddington – load factor 149%
10. 07:10 Haslemere to London Waterloo – load factor 149%