Daily Train Overcrowding in UK: Over 100,00 Passengers Forced to Stand

Daily Train Overcrowding in UK: Over 100,00 Passengers Forced to Stand
Zachary Stieber
7/24/2013
Updated:
7/18/2015

More than 100,000 passengers on London trains had to stand during the morning peak period in 2012, according to new statistics (pdf) released by the United Kingdom’s Department of Transport.

On a typical weekday, 535,000 passengers arrived into central London by rail during the morning peak.

The morning peak is defined as 7:00 a.m. through 9:59 a.m. Most of the people traveling into London came from Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds. 

The top 10 overcrowded trains in 2012 were between 49 percent and 84 percent over capacity limit in the spring and between 49 percent and 65 percent over capacity limit in the fall. 

Transport Minister Norman Baker said in a statement that the rain industry should continue to work on easing congestion.

“Climbing on to a very crowded train is an unpleasant experience and I sympathize with passengers using these services,” he said. “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.”