Packed commuter trains could be about to get much worse (Picture: Glenn Copus/Evening Standard/REX/Shutterstock)

If you thought the morning commute was bad, it could be a lot worse in five years time.

The top 10 most overcrowded trains in England and Wales will be an average of more than 225% in excess of capacity by 2022, according to Labour.

Recent Department for Transport figures shows the typical load factor for the most crammed services increased from 159% to 190% over the past six years.

Labour says if this trend continues the 10 most overcrowded trains will be excess of capacity by 227% by the end of the next parliament.

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said: ‘Overcrowding on our railways is fast becoming a national disgrace thanks to the Tories.

Southern Rail services are amongst the most overcrowded(Picture: Amer Ghazzal/REX/Shutterstock)
Andy McDonald, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, has said services will get a lot more crowded by 2022 (Picture: PA)

‘It will come as little surprise to long-suffering commuters to hear that overcrowding on trains has reached record levels, but the bad news is that it’s set to get even worse.

‘At the current rate some of the most vital commuter routes in the country will be appallingly cramped by the end of this Parliament.’

Mr McDonald said passengers should not have to suffer being ‘crammed into dangerously full carriages as part of their daily commute’ and claimed they are ‘paying more for less under the Tories.’

Southern Railway’s 7.16am train from East Grinstead to London Bridge is the most overcrowded train with an average of 1,366 people rammed into a dozen carriages designed for just 640.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘Rail passenger journeys have more than doubled in the last 20 years. We are committed to improving journeys and we are delivering more trains, more seats and quicker journeys to meet this record demand. We are investing £40bn in our railways and by the end of 2019 we will have more than 3,700 new carriages on the network.

‘We know some passengers have not received the service they deserve, and we continue to work with the industry to cut journey times and crowding, improve reliability and deliver more frequent services.’

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