The 5.46 p.m. London Northwestern Railway (LNWR) service from London Euston to Crewe is among the most crowded commuter trains in England and Wales, according to recent data from the Department for Transport (DfT). The service ranks as the busiest commuter-only route and the second busiest overall, behind a Thameslink service running from Bedford to Three Bridges.
The train, a popular choice for passengers heading north from London, frequently operates beyond its seating capacity. Last autumn’s analysis recorded a load factor of 170%, indicating the number of passengers aboard far exceeded the train’s seating availability. LNWR has since increased the number of seats on the train from 460 to 812 in an effort to alleviate congestion.
Commuters describe the journey as uncomfortable, with many passengers forced to stand or find makeshift seating. Nikhil Patel, 22, who travels from London to Walsall, said he has never secured a seat despite arriving early. “I’ve always had to stand,” he said, balancing himself in the narrow aisle as the train moved. Patel added that train cancellations after boarding were not uncommon, although he was relieved on this occasion the service departed on time.
Daniel Garrill, a 23-year-old data analyst, also regularly uses the service on trips between London and Manchester. He noted never having found a seat during the week, often occupying cramped spots while managing his luggage. Similarly, Akshay Vaghela, 31, commuting to Rugby, described long periods spent standing and sometimes sitting on the floor. He attributed the heavy passenger load, in part, to the service’s lower fares compared to the faster Avanti West Coast trains on the same route.
Despite the train being equipped with air conditioning, passengers like Vaghela say the carriages can become stifling due to overcrowding, with discomfort compounded during warmer weather. “Unless you’ve got water, you’re struggling until you get home,” he remarked.
The persistent overcrowding issue has drawn political attention, particularly from Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, who has advocated for greater public control of rail services. Burnham has described nationalizing the railways as a “no-brainer” and has recently incorporated local bus and tram services into a publicly managed network with capped fares. Plans are underway to integrate rail services into this network later in the year. After being elected as MP for Makerfield, Burnham experienced delays firsthand on an Avanti West Coast train, reinforcing his calls for reform.
Burnham has suggested that renationalization of certain rail services could lower fares and improve affordability. Commuters like Vaghela remain hopeful that such changes will address disparities in service quality, especially on heavily used routes connecting key regions.
A spokesperson for LNWR acknowledged the challenges posed by demand on the route and highlighted the company’s ongoing investment, which has focused on acquiring new trains to expand capacity. “Since this data was gathered we have added hundreds of extra seats to this particular service, increasing its capacity by 77% and significantly reducing its load factor to provide more comfortable journeys for passengers,” the statement said.