A Thameslink morning service from Bedford to Three Bridges via London St Pancras was the most overcrowded train in England and Wales last autumn, with a load factor of 176% shortly after 08:00, according to Department for Transport (DfT) figures.
The list of the ten most overcrowded commuter trains, based on passenger counts taken on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between September and December 2025, highlights severe crowding on key routes despite an overall slight fall in overcrowding.
“A Thameslink morning service was the most overcrowded train in England and Wales last autumn, at 176% capacity.”
Second was a West Midlands service from London Euston to Crewe at 17:46, at 170% capacity, busiest as it left the capital. A Transport for Wales train from Bridgend to Rhymney came third, reaching 161% at Llanishen.
South Western Railway dominated the top ten, with four services making the list, including an Alton to London Waterloo service at 159% and a Fareham to London Waterloo train at 151%. Thameslink appeared three times, with a second Bedford to Three Bridges service at 155% and an Epsom to London Bridge route at 150%.
Overall, only 1.1% of peak-time travellers were on an overcrowded train, the DfT said. More than 1.2 million of the average 1.9 million journeys on a typical autumn day were in London. Overcrowding fell slightly compared with autumn 2024, with an average of 16,800 passengers a day – or 1% – travelling in excess of capacity.
The DfT attributed the improvement to a 4% increase in seating capacity over the past year. A 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 under way 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. Bringing track and train together under Great British Railways will support further improvements, helping create a joined-up network that works for passengers.”