Overcrowding on South West Trains

I'm a researcher for a TV production company called Hardcash Productions - www.hardcashproductions.com - and I'm currently researching a documentary looking at conditions on the UK's rail network, as experienced by regular passengers. We would like to know if your experiences reflect recent reports of overcrowding, high cost of tickets and unreliable services on some lines.

We would very much like to talk to anyone who is a regular passenger/commuter and has strong feelings on any or all of these subjects either way.

If you are interested please call us on 02072532782 or email us your contact details and a time to get in touch with you at hardcash@hardcashproductions.com.

We look forward to hearing from you

Delphine
Hardcash Productions

I totally agree with the above report. I have been getting the Basingstoke to London train ( and yes, Basingstoke is a London overspill town so damned right I can live there and work in my countries capital ) Since the snow this year, most of the services have been reduced from 12 through to 8 coaches and others from 9 down to 6. This has meant that most trains are now seriously over crowded. I suffer from anxiety attacks and one of the triggers if feeling enclosed. It has certainly got worse since the turn of the year so, my course of action, resign from my job. Yup, well done south west trains, you have actually run such a bad service, in a recession, someone would rather stack shelves at their local supermarket rather than use your service to get into the city to earn a decent wage. I find it ironic as well that on most of these services, there are at least 2 first class coaches which are half empty. Here is an idea SWT, remove a first class coach and put a standard class one on the train instead. That way at least there will be 50 more seats. Also, I dont understand why they wont increase their rolling stock, surely causing people not to use their service is bad for business, rejig some of the non peak time services to lesser frequency or shorter trains and bolt these on to the peak time trains where you are getting more revenue.

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!