Worst overcrowded train services revealed
A morning Thameslink service from Bedford to Three Bridges reached a 176% maximum load by the time it arrived at London St Pancras at 8.09am, making it the most overcrowded train in England and Wales, according to new data from the Department for Transport (DfT).
Evening rush hour services also featured prominently. A West Midlands train from London Euston to Crewe hit 170% capacity at 5.46pm while still at Euston. A Transport for Wales service from Bridgend to Rhymney was 161% full at 4.45pm when it reached Llanishen.
Overall crowding levels
The DfT data, based on travel on a typical autumn weekday from September 16 to December 13, 2025, shows that one in five passengers (20%) were standing during peak hours. In London, this rose to one in four passengers. Peak times are defined as trains arriving into city centres between 7am and 9:59am and services departing between 4pm and 6.59pm.
Crowding has decreased overall, with an average of 16,800 passengers per day travelling in excess of capacity – 1.1% of all travellers, down 0.2 percentage points compared to autumn 2024.
Regional demand
London had the highest number of daily arrivals at 1,256,600, over 10 times higher than Birmingham, which had the second highest at around 116,700. Total daily passenger arrivals averaged 1,923,600, up 3% compared to 2024, indicating continued demand growth post-pandemic.
A DfT spokesperson said: "The vast majority of passengers – 98.9% – typically travel on services that are not overcrowded. Where there are pinch points during peak hours, work is underway to improve capacity. GTR has added carriages to its busiest commuter services, while South Western Railway has boosted capacity by nearly 30% in the last year with new trains. Timetable changes are also being introduced across the network, with nationalised operators adding 76,000 extra seats per week. Bringing track and train together under Great British Railways will support further improvements, helping create a joined-up service that puts passengers first."
10 busiest services in England and Wales
- Govia Thameslink (Thameslink) – Bedford to Three Bridges (176% max load)
- West Midlands – London Euston to Crewe (170% max load)
- Transport for Wales – Bridgend to Rhymney (161% max load)
- South Western – Alton to London Waterloo (159% max load)
- Govia Thameslink (Thameslink) – Bedford to Three Bridges (155% max load)
- South Western – Fareham to London Waterloo (151% max load)
- Govia Thameslink (Thameslink) – Epsom to London Bridge (150% max load)
- South Western – Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo (149% max load)
- South Western – London Waterloo to Basingstoke (147% max load)
- West Midlands – London Euston to Birmingham New Street (146% max load)
