Recent data released by the Department for Transport (DfT) highlights the most overcrowded train services in England and Wales.
The report reveals that a morning Thameslink service from Bedford to Three Bridges reached a maximum load of 176% upon arriving at London St Pancras at 8.09am. Additionally, an evening West Midlands service from London Euston to Crewe and a Transport for Wales service from Bridgend to Rhymney were also heavily crowded, with occupancy levels reaching 170% and 161% respectively during peak hours.
The data, gathered on typical autumn weekdays between September 16 and December 13, 2025, indicates that around one in five passengers were standing during peak travel times, with the figure rising to one in four in London. Peak hours are defined as trains entering city centers between 7am and 9:59am and departing between 4pm and 6.59pm.
Despite the high levels of crowding, there has been a slight improvement compared to the previous year, with an average of 16,800 passengers daily exceeding capacity. London recorded the highest number of daily arrivals at 1,256,600, significantly surpassing other cities like Birmingham. Overall, there were 1,923,600 daily passenger arrivals in 2025, marking a 3% increase from the previous year.
According to a DfT spokesperson, the majority of passengers, 98.9%, travel on services that are not overcrowded. Efforts are underway to address capacity issues during peak hours, with operators implementing measures such as adding carriages, boosting capacity, and introducing timetable changes.
Thameslink defended its services, stating that their trains are designed to accommodate high passenger volumes, with measures taken to provide additional space and improve service quality in response to passenger feedback.
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