9 November 2010
The Department for Transport will miss its targets to increase the number of passenger places on commuter trains, the Public Accounts Committee has said.
In a report published today, the committee says overcrowding on the trains is going to intensify.
The DfT is 18 months into a £9bn five-year programme to improve rail travel, in particular by creating more room for commuters. This is to be achieved by introducing longer platforms and more carriages during peak morning hours.
But the PAC found that by March 2014, there will be 15% fewer extra places on commuter trains to London during peak morning hours, and 33% fewer in other major cities, than is needed just to hold overcrowding at current levels.
PAC chair Margaret Hodge said: ‘The committee is concerned that, for commuters, the already unacceptable levels of overcrowding will simply get worse and ever more intolerable.
‘At present, there is no incentive for the rail industry to supply extra capacity without additional public subsidy. The department should for future franchises require operators to take measures themselves to avoid overcrowding and to meet the costs of doing so.’
Hodge added that the rail industry needed to alter its mindset so it is less reliant on public subsidy. ‘All those involved should seek greater efficiency so that resources can be released to fund improvements. With serious cuts in public spending now agreed, it is imperative that the rail industry become more efficient – or the passenger will pay.’
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond agreed that passenger overcrowding was not sustainable.
‘We have taken the tough decision to continue investing in the capacity of our railways to improve passenger experience, but have had to ask passengers to accept a higher level of rail fare increases in 2012–2015 to support this investment,’ he said.
‘That decision means we will be able to unveil details of our plans to reduce overcrowding in the coming weeks.’
