Standing charge: 10 busiest trains in England and Wales

One rush-hour train through London carries more than twice as many passengers as seats available, new government figures reveal.

- SIMON CALDER

The Department for Transport (DfT) has published a list of the 10 busiest trains in England and Wales in autumn 2023. All but one are London commuter services, the exception serving Cardiff Central. Topping the list was the 7.33am from Bedford via Luton airport, London and Gatwick airport to Three Bridges in Sussex.

Approaching London St Pancras International, the train had more passengers standing than seated, with a “maximum load factor” of 204 per cent. The Independent calculates that 537 passengers were obliged to stand.

The Thameslink train has now been extended to 12 carriages, with an average of “only” 187 passengers standing.

Next on the list: Chiltern Railways’ 7.46am departure from Prince’s Risborough in Buckinghamshire, which on the final leg of the journey had almost two-thirds more passengers (65 per cent) than seats available.