Worst overcrowding on record

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

....on the back of the report in the Sunday Times giving the details of the appalling punctuality rates, this completes the picture........

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/train-overcrowding-worst-levels-labour-party-southern-rail-companies-virgin-andy-mcdonald-transport-a7869676.html

[IndustryInsider]

They should use the word 'services' rather than 'routes' as that implies all trains are as full as the flawed survey data that lists the alleged top 10.

No doubt the squeeze is getting worse on average though.  Fortunately of course services into Paddington are about to receive a massive boost, so in a couple of years things should have eased considerably.  I recognise that will be of little comfort to those traveling in the meantime.

[TaplowGreen]

Just out of interest, how is the survey data "flawed" and the top 10 "alleged"?

[John R]

Firstly, several of the top 10 only entered the list by virtue of having a couple of minutes added to their journey time to make the services more reliable given the London Bridge work. This took them above the 20 min threshold beyond which only seating capacity is used, rather than seating plus a notional allocation for standing passengers.  This is explained in the report but conveniently ignored by Labour.

More importantly, to base one's  judgement of overcrowding on the railways in general on the ten worst services identified each year is a bit like basing inflation on the item in the survey which has gone up most. It's far too simplistic.

[TaplowGreen]

Firstly, several of the top 10 only entered the list by virtue of having a couple of minutes added to their journey time to make the services more reliable given the London Bridge work. This took them above the 20 min threshold beyond which only seating capacity is used, rather than seating plus a notional allocation for standing passengers.  This is explained in the report but conveniently ignored by Labour.

More importantly, to base one's  judgement of overcrowding on the railways in general on the ten worst services identified each year is a bit like basing inflation on the item in the survey which has gone up most. It's far too simplistic.

That's interesting, thanks, I'm surprised that the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) didn't use that analysis to rebut the article.

[IndustryInsider]

I'm surprised they insist on releasing the data in the first place.