Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have made to monitor the scale and incidence of substantial overcrowding on long distance trains.

The Department for Transport collects data on passenger numbers from Train Operating Companies biannually. This data focusses on passenger loading on trains at city centres upon arrival in the morning peak and departure in the afternoon peak. The information is used to publish annual statistics for passenger crowding on weekdays within 11 key city centres in England and Wales.

In addition, the Department requires franchisees to consider how the train fleet is matched with the timetable to minimise crowding. Passenger count data is frequently used by the Department to look at passenger demand and train capacities in order to monitor crowding levels throughout the life of a franchise and during the refranchising process.