Kristy recently pointed out to me a website which calls for people’s opinions about overcrowding on overground rail routes. Having now been an overground commuter for a number of months, I felt I was in a good position to share my experiences with them.
Here’s a copy of the e-mail I submitted.
>I’m writing to you concerning the overcrowding on London trains, particularly during the morning rush hours, departing from Putney towards Waterloo. I’d like to tell you about my experience this morning, which I believe is reflective of a typical morning commute.
I arrived at the station around 8:07 AM to find that the train scheduled for that time had been delayed. When I arrived at the platform, I found it to be about 3 – 4 people thick as far as I could see. Not only did this give me the impression that I would not be able to board the next train, but it also left dangerously little space to walk along the platform without bumping into other passengers.
The train arrived around 8:09 AM, already quite crowded with passengers from previous stations, and sure enough, I didn’t even come close to making it aboard that train. People at one end of the train were fighting with the doors to try and get in before they closed, which caused the train to be delayed even further. The train departed around 8:11 AM.
The next train arrived at 8:13 AM, thankfully with much more space available. Passengers piled in as soon as the doors opened, and the space was very quickly filled. Though most people waiting probably made it aboard, I’ve no doubt there were some that were not so fortunate. I counted 34 passengers crammed into the vestibule that I was standing in; this did NOT include the passengers standing along the aisles, let alone those crammed in the vestibule at the other end of the carriage. Needless to say, every seat in the carriage was occupied. I am sure that the other carriages in the train were equally crowded.
Suffice to say, commuting from Putney during peak hour is not a pleasant experience.
I look forward to your feedback on this matter.
Their reply (thus far at least) was a very generic:
Thank you for your interest. Your views will be considered in theinvestigation.
I’m not sure if my e-mail will have any effect, but if everybody thought that, then nothing would get done.
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