Breathing space for commuters - in five years (From Surrey Comet)

Breathing space for commuters - in five years

3:40pm Tuesday 17th February 2009 in News By Louise Robertson

Commuters squeezing on to busy trains into London have been given a ray of hope for more elbow room - but they will have to wait at least five more years.

The Department for Transport has agreed to increase capacity on some South West Trains (SWT) routes by 2014, from eight to 10 carriage trains.

It will mean that platforms at many stations would need to be lengthened and train operators will be given time to provide the extra carriages.

Earlier this month, trains from Surbiton and Clapham Junction - both served by SWT - were named and shamed as some of the most over-crowded stations in the capital in a London Assembly report.

The stations were among 10 “pinch points”, where trains carried up to 40 per cent more passengers than they should at peak times.