New rail passenger crowding statistics have been published today by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).
The latest rail crowding statistics, published in the ‘Peak crowding and passenger demand’ chapter of the National Rail Trends (NRT) Yearbook, show that:
- Overall crowding (as measured by the percentage of passengers in excess of planned capacity; PiXC) across both morning (07:00-09:59) and afternoon (16:00-18:59) peaks on London and South East rail services increased from 2.2% in 2009 to 3.0% in 2010.
- On a typical weekday in autumn 2010 the total number of passengers entering central London during the morning peak was 521,200.
- Outside of London, Birmingham has the highest passenger demand, with 36,100 passengers departing from the city during the afternoon peak, followed by Manchester (29,400 departures) and Leeds (23,800).
London
In 2010 First Great Western services had the highest levels of crowding across both peaks (with a PiXC of 16.6%), followed by Southern (3.5%) and National Express East Anglia (3.2%).
Overall, crowding on London and South East rail services on a typical weekday is higher in the morning peak than in the afternoon peak, with PiXC at 4.0% in the morning and 1.9% in the afternoon in autumn 2010.
In the morning peak in 2010 the highest level of crowding was seen on services into Paddington (with a PiXC of 18.5%) and the lowest crowding was recorded for services into Euston (0.2%).
Regional cities
On a typical weekday the number of passengers on services departing from major regional cities during the afternoon peak is generally higher than the number of passengers arriving during the morning peak.  This is the reverse of the trend seen in London.
In autumn 2010, the highest percentage of standard class passengers standing was recorded at Leeds, with 14.0% standing on arrival at the city centre in the morning peak and 12.1% standing on departure in the afternoon peak.
Passenger Focus responded to the overcrowding figures, David Sidebottom, Director said:
“Getting a seat is a daily struggle for some passengers as overcrowding on the railways continues to be a big problem. While we welcome that more people are taking the train, the issue is where they are all going to sit.”
“Train companies’ franchise agreements state that services need to be planned so that passengers ought not to stand for more than 20 minutes.
“The industry needs to address this through increasing capacity by more trains and carriages, upgrading railway infrastructure such as new signal technology, track work, longer station platforms and new lines.”
“In 2010 First Great Western services had the highest levels of crowding across both peaks…”
Never mind, FGW’s 6 new carriages will ensure that overcrowding is a thing of the past I’m sure.
Six! Oh what lucky sardines we are.