STANDING JOKE
LATEST OVERCROWDING FIGURES SHOW SOUTH WALES RAIL PASSENGERS WERE FORCED TO STAND ON MORE THAN HALF OF KEY MORNING SERVICES
THE frustration felt by passengers with no other option but to stand on crowded trains has come under the spotlight with the release of new figures detailing just how tight a squeeze many people face each day.
UK Department for Transport data reveals the extent of the problem in the Welsh capital.
More than half of train services arriving in Cardiff between 8am and 9am last year had passengers who were forced to stand.
The figures show more than 900 passengers a day were left standing on trains arriving into Cardiff during morning rush hour – one in every seven.
Almost a sixth of all trains arriving into Cardiff between 8-9am were filled above capacity, carrying more passengers than they are designed to allow.
Similarly, commuters leaving the city between 5pm and 6pm have a one in nine chance of having to stand, with a typical evening rush hour seeing 700 passengers on their feet.
The findings reveal that 14% of passengers on an Arriva Trains Wales service in Cardiff were standing on a typical autumn weekday during the three-hour peak-time window. Ten per cent were standing during the evening peak period.
The Department for Transport’s analysis focuses on 11 of the UK’s largest cities, of which Cardiff was the only one in Wales.
However, its findings will put further pressure on governments in both the Welsh and UK capitals to ensure that the country’s rail networks have the capacity to cope with future growth.
The figures come at a time when the UK Government is under pressure for scrapping plans to electrify the Great Western rail line from Cardiff to Swansea.
Its decision to scrap the Severn Crossing tolls next year may result in more people in South Wales who cross the border choosing to travel by car, but there are strong calls for both the south and north Wales rail networks to be upgraded.
Arriva Trains Wales says its latest timetable, which came into effect in May, has doubled capacity on the busiest routes into Cardiff.
Barry Lloyd, head of customer experience, said: “We are well aware that some services in and out of Cardiff are extremely busy.
“As has been widely reported, the Wales and borders franchise was a no-growth franchise and as such sourcing any additional trains has been difficult. However, this year there have been two fantastic announcements which will go a long way to tackle overcrowding. The first was our new May timetable which created 600 additional seat on our busiest trains into Cardiff at peak times.
“Passengers are already reaping the benefits of this extra capacity. The second was our announcement alongside the Welsh Government earlier this month of five additional trains to Wales as of next year, with 20 carriages and 1,500 additional seats.”
Jacqueline Starr, managing director of customer experience at the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, said: “We understand passengers’ frustration when they can’t get a seat, which is why rail companies are working together to invest and make journeys better with thousands of new carriages and 6,400 extra train services a week by 2021.
“We will continue to work with governments to increase seats on key routes to boost communities, businesses and the economy.”
The most overcrowded train in either Wales or England was the 7.16am East Grinstead to London Bridge. Despite having capacity for only 640 passengers it carried 1,366.
London has the most overcrowded trains in the country with 82% of trains arriving into stations during morning rush hour have passengers who are forced to stand – close to 88,000 people every day.
Next year the Welsh Government is due to take over “full responsibility” for the Wales and Borders franchise area currently run by Arriva Trains Wales.