Posters plea to show train overcrowding

Transport Minister Norman Baker has written to every operator urging them to publish information on a train-by-train basis.

Mr Baker wants the firms to adopt a simple traffic light system to indicate which services are the most overcrowded.

The minister highlighted posters produced by London Midland setting out this information for passengers at stations. He said the company publishes details of each of its services into Birmingham and London at the busiest times and colour-codes them –red, amber or green.

Mr Baker said he wants to see this kind of initiative adopted across England and Wales as soon as possible.

“Publication of train-by-train crowding information is, in the short term, an important tool for allowing passengers to make informed choices about which trains to travel on, and convincing those passengers who can change their travel patterns to do so,” he said.

The move comes a fortnight after passengers groups and unions reacted angrily to the announcement of a round of above-inflation rail fare rises in the New Year.

Campaigners called on the Government to step in to halt a proposed 4.1 per cent average rise despite many services being overcrowded.

A spokesman for the Association of Train Operating Companies said: “As train companies, we want our passengers to enjoy a comfortable journey, which is why many operators already provide information about which services are busiest.”