England and Wales' Most Overcrowded Trains Revealed by DfT Report

The most overcrowded train service in England and Wales last autumn was a Thameslink morning rush hour service between Bedford and Three Bridges in West Sussex, according to the Department for Transport (DfT). Second on the list was a West Midlands service from London Euston to Crewe, Cheshire, departing at 17:46, the government figures reveal. Overall, they show overcrowding on commuter trains serving major English and Welsh cities fell slightly, for the first time since 2020, due to an increase in capacity. Only 1.1% of peak-time travellers were on an overcrowded train, the DfT said. More than 1.2 million of the average 1.9 million journeys on a typical autumn day were in London. The DfT says work is under way to improve capacity where there are pinch points during peak hours. The Thameslink service which topped the list had a "load factor" – meaning how full the train was – of 176% at London St Pancras shortly after 08:00. The West Midlands service to Crewe had a load factor of 170%. It was busiest when it departed Euston. The third most crowded train was a Transport for Wales service from Bridgend to Rhymney, with a load factor of 161%. It was busiest at Llanishen. Four of the top ten services were operated by South Western, and Thameslink appeared twice more.