Policy Hub
On 3 February 2009, the London Assembly’s Transport Committee published a report (The big squeeze: rail overcrowding in London) which argues that short term cuts to rail services implemented as the recession bites must not be allowed to jeopardise long term efforts to reduce overcrowding on trains.
The report acknowledges that the recent rise in passenger numbers is slowing down, prompting train operating companies to reduce services. However, it argues that the slowdown is likely to be temporary and substantial growth is still expected in the long term.
If mishandled, the report insists that reductions in services or failure to secure investment for new rail infrastructure now could mean that overcrowding on trains could be worse than ever when passenger numbers start to rise again.
The report maps the top 20 busiest routes into London and identifies the worst ‘pinch point’ stations on these routes, where commuters are often unable to board trains that are already overcrowded before they reach the outskirts of the capital.
It recognises that there is no single answer to overcrowding and calls on the Mayor of London to set out a proposed mix of solutions when he publishes his transport strategy later this year.