Rail commuters slam overcrowded services

DEVON’S train services are being heavily criticised for overcrowding at peak travel times as commuters take to social media to share their frustrations.

It follows reports earlier this week of a woman suffering a ‘medical episode’ after boarding a crowded train at Exeter St David’s.

The woman collapsed after being pushed away from carriage doors on the packed 5.15pm Great Western Railway service from Exeter Central to Barnstaple on Monday.

Images showed the notoriously busy Great Western Railway service between Exeter and Barnstaple, which is heavily relied upon by those commuting to work and Exeter College. With just a small amount of standing room, passengers can be seen ‘squashed shoulder to shoulder’, many of them from Exeter College who returned for their first full day back on Monday.

A spokesperson for GWR responded: “We are really sorry. The train operated with one less carriage than it should have done on the day because of a train fault. Unfortunately, this also coincided with an increase in people travelling with the start of term and Freshers week.

“If you were delayed by more than 15 minutes you may be entitled to compensation and we would urge you to get in touch, or visit www.gwr. com/help-and-support/refundsand-compensation/delay-repay.”

Regular users of trains in Devon have taken to Facebook express their frustration at the overcrowding.

Many of those who commented said they had witnessed similar scenes on trains in and around the South West, including one who said: “The trains all this week between Exeter and Barnstaple have been awful. Loads have been cut to two carriages and having got a couple of the trains in the last week myself even three carriages on the “rush hour” routes isn’t really enough and still leaves lots standing. Two carriages is absolutely rammed.

“Waiting an hour for the next train isn’t a good enough option either, especially when Monday they cancelled the one before and after the train mentioned. So if you’d waited at 4.15(ish) then not got on the 5.15(ish) because of crowding you wouldn’t have got on until 7.15(ish)... 3hrs wait for a train that already takes well over an hour to go from Exeter to Barnstaple and after a full day at work or college, with the prices they charge is completely unacceptable.”

One person explained that the public transport situation in Devon has been an issue for many years, especially among for those commuting: “It’s the same as it was over 20 years ago when I was catching the train to Exeter College. They always had 2, maybe 3 carriages max. on peak time trains. We called them the sardine specials.

“My son has just started at Exeter College this week and it’s the same thing. Standing room only from Newton Abbot. That means Teignmouth, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren and Starcross passengers struggle to get in the train to get to Exeter in time to start for 9am. Whether working or at college, it’s time the transport companies provided the service needed at peak times. We pay enough for the service.”

Elsewhere in Devon, a frustrated rail user added: The Exmouth 4.50pm is the same. I complained loads of times about dangerous overcrowding – in the end I stopped using the train and I drove”.