“Cattle class” is how beleaguered commuters refer to their severely overcrowded rush-hour train services, some of which are running with more than 300 passengers above seating capacity. Among the most crowded trains, according to figures from the Department for Transport, are the 8.02 am Woking to Waterloo service, which runs through Surbiton, and the 7.32 am Waterloo sister service. On the Woking service, some 865 passengers are squeezed into space allocated for 492 people, while on the latter train, despite four extra carriages, there are also over 300 additional passengers standing.

 

Also among the worst services is the 7.15 am train from Cambridge to King’s Cross, which runs at 76% above capacity, with 870 passengers crammed into eight carriages designed to carry only 495 people.

 

South West Trains, which operates the Waterloo routes, said the 8.02 train had been increased to 12 carriages but extra ones couldn’t be added because of the length of the station platforms. Increasing the length of the platforms to accommodate longer trains, starting with  Waterloo station, is seen as the way forward to tackle the overcrowding problems.

 

It seems that passengers are not even complaining much about the abysmal service, perhaps because they have come to accept the dreadful conditions. “It’s probably a case of them being comfortably numb,” said a platform kiosk vendor, John Greig, in Surbiton, who sees people being crammed into carriages every morning. For these embattled passengers, their commute has become a struggle to simply get on the train, let alone find a seat.

 

With no signs of imminent improvement, and faced with the prospect of rising rail fares, many commuters may choose to return to the comfort and convenience of their cars rather than face the twice-daily misery and discomfort of rail journeys standing in packed carriages. As it is, some 72% of people said they would not stop using their cars unless public transport is free, according to a recent survey by market information company TNS UK.

 

Aside from the clear benefits of comfort, privacy and flexibility afforded by car travel, commuters travelling into London also have the enormous advantage of being able to obtain a parking contract with private parking firms, which guarantees a secure and conveniently located parking spot. Such benefits can make all the difference between a highly stressful and uncomfortable start to one’s day and arriving to work relaxed and rested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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24 7 Parking carries out daily surveys of the national media to provide up-to-date news and commentary on UK transport.