A very simple change that would reduce overcrowding would be to allow passengers on the 17:43 Avanti service to set down at Milton Keynes and to reduce the cost of the "Any Permitted" fare between London and Milton Keynes to either the "LNR only" or "Avanti only" fare".
Currently the above service is "pick up" only, but the loadings clearly indicate it's a fresh air express (only 60 seats are reserved tonight even though reservations are nominally compulsory). The "pick up" restriction is really just intended to prevent splitting at Milton Keynes, which would allow a huge saving to be made on journeys heading further north due to Avanti's usurious Anytime fares.
Similarly the Thameslink Bedford to Three Bridges service listed as one of the most overcrowded is only 8 coaches. Thameslink has a huge fleet of 12 coach trains - why isn't one used on this service? Apparently it's a convenient move to get an 8 coach unit into Three Bridges depot - but that should be the absolute last priority when there are no doubt a thousand other ways of achieving it. They just might mean a bit more ECS mileage and thus drivers and costs.
Unfortunately the rail industry is far too obsessed with revenue maximisation and cost reduction to allow a sensible utilisation of the available capacity. It's a prime example of how it lacks the correct incentives to achieve good outcomes for passengers.
