How is a commuter only train defined?

JamesDrew · 4 Aug 2026

Article on today’s Guardian website states:

‘This rush-hour service, operated by London Northwestern Railway (LNR), is the busiest commuter-only journey in England and Wales, according to figures by the Department for Transport‘

referring to an early evening train from Euston to Crewe. Does that statement referring to commuter-only mean anything or is it just sloppy journalism? I’ve never heard of train services that are reserved solely for commuters.

Link to the article is here:

A rail nightmare: what it’s like on England’s busiest commuter-only train

This evening service from London to Crewe is hot, sweaty and heaving with people, many having to stand or sit in the gangways

www.theguardian.com

RailUK Forums

STINT47 · 4 Aug 2026

All passengers tend to be referred to as commuters these days by the media. Poor journalism in my opinion.

Bletchleyite · 4 Aug 2026

~~What the article doesn't pick up on is that the reason this train is so busy is that people are priced off Avanti by their punitive Anytime fares.~~

Oops, missed it!

John R · 4 Aug 2026

Bletchleyite said:
What the article doesn't pick up on is that the reason this train is so busy is that people are priced off Avanti by their punitive Anytime fares.

You sure?

This train is particularly busy because it is cheaper than the shorter Avanti service also heading to Crewe

Magdalia · 4 Aug 2026

This is based on data published recently and discussed here:

New passenger numbers and Crowding figures published

Just been released by DfT, rail passenger numbers and crowding in major cities...

www.railforums.co.uk

The top 10 most overcrowded trains has been published for around 20 years, this year the 1746 Euston-Crewe is actually number 2 behind the 0713 Bedford-Three Bridges, but it is a bit early to expect a journalist to be up for that!

The details of what is included and what isn't is covered in the linked discussion and the statistical release gives more details.

Basically it covers trains calling at peak hours 0700-0959 and 1600-1859 at one of the designated stations included in the data.

JamesDrew · 4 Aug 2026

Magdalia said:
This is based on data published recently and discussed here:

New passenger numbers and Crowding figures published

Just been released by DfT, rail passenger numbers and crowding in major cities...

www.railforums.co.uk

The top 10 most overcrowded trains has been published for around 20 years, this year the 1746 Euston-Crewe is actually number 2 behind the 0713 Bedford-Three Bridges, but it is a bit early to expect a journalist to be up for that!

The details of what is included and what isn't is covered in the linked discussion and the statistical release gives more details.

Basically it covers trains calling at peak hours 0700-0959 and 1600-1859 at one of the designated stations included in the data.

Thanks that’s very helpful, as is the link to the government statistics- though I can see no reference to ‘commuter only’ services. So I guess that phrase is nonsensical in this context.

Horizon22 · 4 Aug 2026

I mean there are a few diagrams out there than go depot > Station A > Station B > Station A > depot. Where station A-B is the "peak leg". Probably less than there used to be since Covid, but that might be something you could sort of classify as "commuter only". Obviously that can never be technically true and is probably a bit of lazy / uninformed journalism.

Interestingly the people sitting in the aisles (pictures 1/2) show that the gangways have got nobody standing in them on this particular trip. That isn't what I would suggest is overcrowded (picture 3 is more like it).

The exile · 4 Aug 2026

In the days when it was still BR, I would imagine that Waterloo- Bank trains between 07.30 and 09.00 on weekdays were de facto “commuter only” trains!

Dr Hoo · 4 Aug 2026

Historically there were a few ‘workers’ trains to/from industrial premises that were effectively ‘commuter only’. The Singer Works in Clydebank, which had its own private terminal station, was a prime example.

Magdalia · 4 Aug 2026

JamesDrew said:
Thanks that’s very helpful, as is the link to the government statistics- though I can see no reference to ‘commuter only’ services. So I guess that phrase is nonsensical in this context.

It isn't nonsensical for the journalist, or their readers. For the journalist "commuter only train" is an attempt to convey, in a more meaningful way for their readers, what "peak hours services" means as used in the Statistical Release.

Though I think a good sub-editor would have put the digital equivalent of the red pen through "only"!

45Fox · 4 Aug 2026

Dr Hoo said:
Historically there were a few ‘workers’ trains to/from industrial premises that were effectively ‘commuter only’. The Singer Works in Clydebank, which had its own private terminal station, was a prime example.

Didn't Rowntree's at York have the same?

D1537 · 4 Aug 2026

45Fox said:
Didn't Rowntree's at York have the same?

Yes. Closed in the late 80s. One morning and one evening train (which, I think came from Doncaster).

Shaw S Hunter · 4 Aug 2026

45Fox said:
Didn't Rowntree's at York have the same?

Beaten to it by @D1537 ! But can add that south of York it was a public service and in some timetables ran to/from Selby.

Kite159 · 4 Aug 2026

The simplest solution for that particular service will be to make Milton Keynes and maybe even Rugby pick up only.

Bletchleyite · 4 Aug 2026

Kite159 said:
The simplest solution for that particular service will be to make Milton Keynes and maybe even Rugby pick up only.

Or just put up with it. Seats will become available after MK/Rugby and they are after all getting a bargain compared to Avanti. This type of train (perhaps in a way analogous to something like Waterloo-Weymouth in being a long distance regional/commuter service) does often carry standing loads at the London end and that is to be expected.

Horizon22 · 4 Aug 2026

Kite159 said:
The simplest solution for that particular service will be to make Milton Keynes and maybe even Rugby pick up only.

Perhaps. But you might just shunt the problem to the next service. Ultimately disproptionately lots of people (still) want to travel from London at 1730-1800 and into London for 0800-0830 - at least Tuesday to Thursday - and there's only so much capacity available.

AM9 · 4 Aug 2026

Horizon22 said:
I mean there are a few diagrams out there than go depot > Station A > Station B > Station A > depot. Where station A-B is the "peak leg".

There are also many peak trains that run station A>Station B>ECS to sidings by 09:30, then reverse that routing from 16:00.
Typical of these were GEML from somewhere east of Shenfield to Liverpool St then parked at Stratford/Ilford, doing the reverse in the afternoon. The journey back to the origins could use valuable down paths that had better use. I think most of the other trunk routes into London have similar patterns.

Horizon22 · 4 Aug 2026

AM9 said:
There are also many peak trains that run station A>Station B>ECS to sidings by 09:30, then reverse that routing from 16:00.
Typical of these were GEML from somewhere east of Shenfield to Liverpool St then parked at Stratford/Ilford, doing the reverse in the afternoon. The journey back to the origins could use valuable down paths that had better use. I think most of the other trunk routes into London have similar patterns.

On the GEML there's a few of these still existing and they go back to Ilford or even further away.

Here's a GA one: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P01074/2026-08-04/detailed. Colchester > Liverpool Street only. ECS either side.
There's a few Elizabeth line ones that only do 1 Gidea Park <> Liverpool Street service - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C35264/2026-08-04/detailed

AM9 · 4 Aug 2026

Horizon22 said:
On the GEML there's a few of these still existing and they go back to Ilford or even further away.

Here's a GA one: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P01074/2026-08-04/detailed. Colchester > Liverpool Street only. ECS either side.
There's a few Elizabeth line ones that only do 1 Gidea Park <> Liverpool Street service - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C35264/2026-08-04/detailed

So is Colchester the nearest GA location to London with enough sidings available? They used to stack 305s, 307s 308s & 309s at Channelsea Curve sidings all day with a few swaps into and out of Ilford in the '70s.

Kite159 · 4 Aug 2026

AM9 said:
So is Colchester the nearest GA location to London with enough sidings available? They used to stack 305s, 307s 308s & 309s at Channelsea Curve sidings all day with a few swaps into and out of Ilford in the '70s.

Or even use Orient Way Sidings (unless that is what you mean with Channelsea Curve). Seems a bit wasteful for a long ECS service. I'm pretty sure Greater Anglia also use the various sidings around Southend Victoria to stable units during the day (a pair of 720s arrive from London, splitting on the platform to form two different services or shunting to one of the sidings).

I guess there is also a limit of siding space available for 10 coach sets.

----

C2C & South Eastern are other operators which spring to mind at having units which do a single trip to London in the morning and a single trip away from London in the evenings with ECS services to various sidings/depots (East Ham/Grove Park etc). South Eastern for some of the peak time 375 operated services from Cannon Street etc.

Galactic142 · 4 Aug 2026

Reading the article (and I agree it's poor journalism) I think by 'commuter-only' it means 'not serving airports'. It states that the busiest service is Thameslink which calls at the 'International hubs' of Gatwick, Luton and St Pancras, so I think the author is making the point that he/she's discounting Thameslink.

Frankly, even though it calls at airports, I reckon Thameslink is still very definitely a commuter service!

Horizon22 · 4 Aug 2026

AM9 said:
So is Colchester the nearest GA location to London with enough sidings available? They used to stack 305s, 307s 308s & 309s at Channelsea Curve sidings all day with a few swaps into and out of Ilford in the '70s.

No, you could use Aldersbrook (for a 5 car), Ilford, Orient Way etc.

This is just one I was aware of, there's certainly more.

Magdalia · 4 Aug 2026

AM9 said:
They used to stack 305s, 307s 308s & 309s at Channelsea Curve sidings all day with a few swaps into and out of Ilford in the '70s.

Kite159 said:
Or even use Orient Way Sidings (unless that is what you mean with Channelsea Curve).

Orient Way didn't exist in the 1970s. I presume this means Thornton Field, which was roughly where the Olympic Stadium is now.

Orient Way is mainly for the West Anglia side, including Stansted Express overnight. At peak times the number of movements through platforms 11/12 at Stratford are very restricted and this is what constrains use of Orient Way between the peaks.

One of the longest one journey peak examples is 0650 Ely-Liverpool Street which comes empty from Cambridge to Ely then runs empty back to Cambridge.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P66664/2026-08-04/detailed#allox_id=1

evergreenadam · 4 Aug 2026

Galactic142 said:
Reading the article (and I agree it's poor journalism) I think by 'commuter-only' it means 'not serving airports'. It states that the busiest service is Thameslink which calls at the 'International hubs' of Gatwick, Luton and St Pancras, so I think the author is making the point that he/she's discounting Thameslink.

Frankly, even though it calls at airports, I reckon Thameslink is still very definitely a commuter service!

It’s just very badly worded, no other explanation.

yorkie · 5 Aug 2026

JamesDrew said:
Article on today’s Guardian website states:

referring to an early evening train from Euston to Crewe. Does that statement referring to commuter-only mean anything or is it just sloppy journalism? I’ve never heard of train services that are reserved solely for commuters.

Link to the article is here:

A rail nightmare: what it’s like on England’s busiest commuter-only train

This evening service from London to Crewe is hot, sweaty and heaving with people, many having to stand or sit in the gangways

www.theguardian.com

It's nonsense, and the sort of article that unfairly gives the entire journalism industry a terrible reputation.

It looks like a combination of laziness and incompetence from the journalist(s).

There is no such concept as a 'commuter only train', not would the journalist have given any thought into what the word 'commuter' even means in this context.

Not only are the words either inaccurate, misleading or clunky, they article includes bogus claims, such as the passenger who says:

I’ve never gotten a seat. I always stand up even when I get here early

Ignoring the awful word 'gotten', anyone who gets there early would surely get a seat at the very front. In my experience of such trains, many people choose to stand rather than sit among other people, especially if the only available seats are middle seats.

moogal · 5 Aug 2026

yorkie said:
Not only are the words either inaccurate, misleading or clunky, they article includes bogus claims, such as the passenger who says:

Ignoring the awful word 'gotten', anyone who gets there early would surely get a seat at the very front. In my experience of such trains, many people choose to stand rather than sit among other people, especially if the only available seats are middle seats.

As a regular user of the LNR services out of Euston, that was my reaction too - usually if you're there around 20 minutes before departure you're able to get a seat towards the front of the train. Pretty much the only times the train fills up instantly is when it's short-formed.

Merle Haggard · 5 Aug 2026

moogal said:
As a regular user of the LNR services out of Euston, that was my reaction too - usually if you're there around 20 minutes before departure you're able to get a seat towards the front of the train. Pretty much the only times the train fills up instantly is when it's short-formed.

my bold.
That suggests the Euston situation has improved remarkably.
Before Covid I sometimes caught the 1744 (? not sure of the exact minutes) Euaston - Birmingham via Northampton, 12 cars (at the time, I think, high on the list of 'busiest trains') and the announcement regarding platform was only made about 5 minutes before booked departure. Formed from an inwards Tring - Euston service which was often delayed and in practice arrived about 1730-5, so earlier advice of platform would have been of little use.

yorkie · 5 Aug 2026

Merle Haggard said:
my bold.
That suggests the Euston situation has improved remarkably.
Before Covid I sometimes caught the 1744 (? not sure of the exact minutes) Euaston - Birmingham via Northampton, 12 cars (at the time, I think, high on the list of 'busiest trains') and the announcement regarding platform was only made about 5 minutes before booked departure. Formed from an inwards Tring - Euston service which was often delayed and in practice arrived about 1730-5, so earlier advice of platform would have been of little use.

The Crewe services seem to have bigger turnarounds than that.

The situation at Euston is debated in other threads, so let's not duplicate that here.

Western Sunset · 5 Aug 2026

Would munition workers going to Cold Meece (near Stone) during WW2 have been regarded as "commuters", or was the term not widely used in Britain then?

waveyswirley · 5 Aug 2026

I also thought the description of the service as "commuter-only" was odd. Yes, the Bedford to Three Bridges Thameslink service will carry passengers making international travel connections at Luton Airport and St Pancras, but who's to say there aren't people boarding the Crewe service following arrivals from abroad having e.g. walked from St Pancras or taken the tube from Heathrow? Weird.

To me, the article highlighted the negative effects of centralisation and the disparity in the cost of living between London and the rest of the country. If commuting from Walsall to London is preferable to simply living closer to London then something has gone seriously wrong. Not sure what exactly LNR or any other train operator are expected to do about it.

How is a commuter only train defined?

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