Overcrowding is a significant problem and the inconvenience to customers is fully recognised. In recent years, South West Trains has experienced considerable growth in the numbers of passengers travelling and this has added to overcrowding.
At peak times, our trains are intensively used and, like other urban-area rail operators, we are unable to guarantee a seat to everyone. We do monitor passenger loadings on trains in an effort to adjust our timetables and reallocate carriages from quieter trains to busier ones where possible. Unfortunately, we cannot run any longer trains without extending platforms, and we cannot operate more trains in peak hours into and out of London as the tracks are already heavily congested and there are no more train paths (or slots) available to us. Both solutions will require significant investment.
South West Trains did propose platform extensions in its original 20-year franchise bid to the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), but longer franchises were not taken forward. The SRA now favours much shorter franchises, with operators concentrating on train performance and the SRA leading on major investment proposals. We are doing what we can to help reduce overcrowding within the scope of our franchise, but only through a greater level of infrastructure funding can a longer-term solution be achieved. The SRA and Network Rail have to consider this among other investment priorities.
Andrew Haines, Managing Director