Unacceptable overloading

As a fairly frequent traveller on the Stansted Airport to Birmingham New Street service, and as a former railway manager from the area, I am absolutely appalled at the gross overcrowding that passengers using this ‘Cinderella’ service are subjected to on a regular basis - particularly when two-car units are used.

Back in my day, the Divisional Director would have had his backside well and truly kicked by the Board for seemingly presiding over such regular passenger discomfort. Remedial action would be swiftly implemented, or the consequences for failure to do so would be severely felt by those deemed to be held responsible!

My last experience of such gross overloading was on a Thursday in August, on the 1027 from Stansted Airport formed of two-car unit 170522.

Almost all seats were occupied before departure, and by the time the service departed from Cambridge passengers were standing - some remained so until the service arrived at Peterborough. So much for customer service.

Although a trolley service was on board, it was unable to operate due to blocked aisles with standing passengers. And the long-suffering conductor had no chance with his revenue protection duty.

I know that many people love to talk about the bad old days of British Rail (although many who do never actually worked for it), but this kind of ongoing situation would never have been tolerated by the British Rail Board. Heads would have rolled by now!

Derek Lawman, Oswestry