Overcrowding on South West Trains

I email SWT this January in relation to overcrowding caused by a lack of rolling stock. Trains that were normally running as twelve coaches were eight or even four. The guards normally providing various reasons for the lack of rolling stock. I liked the one saying the carriages being out of service for modifications, only thing I can think of is they are going to remove all the seats.

SWT answer is below, not exactly encouraging, it sounds like they have just enough rolling stock to provide a service, if any break down then there is no standby rolling stock.

Thank you for your email of 03 February 2010.

Unfortunately, if any train fails or there is a problem, we are forced to run the train with less carriages than normal. We do not have any plans to purchase additional stock.

As advised in my previous email, we will run any train with less carriages than advertised rather than cancel the service.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Kind Regards
******
Customer Relations Officer

If you're so concerned about boarding a crowded train why don't you catch the next one? There's plenty of them but of course you would want everyone else to get off, wouldn't you? I get on these trains and see every other seat unoccupied while people stand because they don't want to sit next to someone else. I bet you are one of those inconsiderate people who sits in the aisle seat and puts you bacg/coat on the window seat and only begrudingly moves if someone has the audacity to ask to to move your stuff

What goes on here laura? surely there wouldn't be that much extra running costs for an extra couple of carriges on the end of the train?

But this has been going on for years with the train companies,

About time it was re-nationalised.

Hello.

I totally agree with you! I came across your post just now as I am trying to find out if there are restriction on the trains. I was on a train from London Waterloo to Portsmouth yesterday and I ended up blacking out from being so crammed in! My partner had to carry me of the train at the next stop! It was rediculous! I could not move or breathe- hence blacking out! This should not be allowed! There was about 15 of us crammed in between the doors in between carriages- it was not bad when I got on at London Waterloo but then more people were allowed to get on at the next stop! Crazy and I am going to take this further! I paid almost £30 for my ticket and do not expect to pay that and then have to travel in those conditions!

I am certainly going to take this further and ensure it is not something that is just brushed under the carpet!

The reason South West Trains services are overcrowded is because people travel too far into work each day. If employers in the City started only employing Londoners in those jobs, we would soon see the present dangerous levels of overcrowding disappear.

Bring this country back to what it used to be: people living near their work. Millions of people commuting into London every day is just nonsense!

Safety on trains. Apparently according to health and safety, overloading of trains with standing passengers is OK. Yet if I don't wear a seat belt or use a mobile in the car it's an instant fine, whilst train companies can happily put many more peoples lives at risk with immunity.

I commute daily to Hounslow from South Croydon, Surrey. I use South West Trains and Southern and their "service" is several steps below any acceptable level of what can be considered appalling.

I also don't have a problem with the occasional (sometimes frequent) delays which are normally only a minute or two. However when the electronic boards announce a cancelled service it would be a real treat to know why this is the case.

The biggest problem is the fact that the coaches are now so overcrowded especially to and from Clapham that thinking I might get a seat is as wishful as a belief in the truthfulness of politicians. I agree with another poster that the overcrowding must surely be a breach of the ever-entertaining Health & Safety policies.

I don't even care that my monthly rail pass has increased in price by 5.8% but for that above-inflation increase surely it's not a bridge too far to expect to park my backside on a seat or even have enough space to read the newspaper.

Does anyone know whether there is any point in approaching the rail companies?

I agree with you with the south west train services.

But, I don't like the fact you are calling India a third world nation, when it in fact is one of the fastest developing countries.

Get some research done before saying something.

Idiot!

I totally agree with the comments about overcrowding on South West Trains. One of the peak trains from Poole to Waterloo is frequently reduced from 10 to 5 carriages. Using this daily for commuting has turned into an extremely unpleasant journey. South West Trains need to act and resolve the problem. People are paying good money for a season ticket and travelling in miserable conditions.

I would be happy to sit on the roof, at least it would be a seat!

Studies have shown that you're actually safer in an overcrowded train which crashes - people cushion each other from impact. Add to the fact that you're more likely to be struck by lightning or win the lottery jackpot than being in a train crash.

The overcrowding is horrendous of course, but that's the Government's fault and that of our custom of working set hours.

problem is, train opperators can't afford to buy trains outright they have to lease them, the more they lease the more it costs, and they don't have the money to do that, Public transport is about business not public transport these days.

My Dad works for them And I can assure you the Drivers have more gripes about the trains than the Public do! consider the trains have air conditioning, not in the drivers cab, in last years heat wave, temperatures in the cabs reached over 45 Celsius, in a safety critical role, south west trains didn't even give them free drinks! the drivers seats are badly designed and lead to injuries due to operation of the AWS (advanced warning system) pedals on some trains. the list goes on, but the drivers (and guards) have to put up with it for hours on end.

I'm not belittling the gripes of passengers, in fact I'm all for them being resolved but whilst the railway is privatised I don't see that there will be any major improvements at all.

the reason a train has no safe limit is partly because it would be impossible to enforce and partly because a train is just as likley to derail when empty as when full and standing.