Rail overcrowding warning issued

Passengers numbers are set to rise in the long term the report said

Any plans by rail companies to cut services because of the recession must not "compromise" efforts to tackle overcrowding, a report has warned.

A failure to secure new investment to combat the recession could also be a matter for concern, a London Assembly Transport Committee report said.

Southeastern Trains said last month it is to lay off 300 people, in part because of falling passenger numbers.

But the report warned passenger numbers were expected to rise in the long term.

'Tough times'

Almost 700,000 people commute using the 50 overground rail routes into London.

Those routes account for about a fifth of all commuting in the city.

Most overcrowded London stations East Croydon Surbiton Tottenham Hale Forest Hill Bromley South Balham Highbury and Islington Clapham Junction Finsbury Park Sydenham Streatham Hill Ealing Broadway

"Although times are tough at the moment, overcrowding remains a serious problem on many routes and the anticipated fall in passenger numbers will not go on forever," said committee chairwoman Val Shawcross.

"Any short-term cuts to allow for the current economic slowdown must not compromise long-term measures to reduce overcrowding that will be needed more than ever as London recovers."

Despite a slowdown in a recent rise in passenger numbers, the "Big Squeeze" report said that substantial growth was expected in the long-term.

Official figures show that trains in London and the south-east of England are, on average, carrying about 3.5% more passengers than they should be.

On the most overcrowded trains, this figure is about 40%.

The report also identified the stations where commuters are often unable to board trains because of overcrowding.

These include East Croydon, Tottenham Hale and Ealing Broadway.

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