Compensation for overcrowding - do you think this could work?

[meremolecule]

I made a petition to introduce a compensation scheme for overcrowding on trains along the lines of the delay repay scheme. At the moment, as far as I can tell, there's no incentive for train companies to not overcrowd (and every incentive to fill the trains with as many passengers as possible). I'd like to hear people's thoughts about the logistics of this:

Do train companies (or other organisations) collect data on train occupation rates, or on overcrowding?
Do other countries have compensation systems for this, or how else do they avoid/deal with the problem?
Who could be compensated through such a scheme, and how?
More broadly, does this seem feasible or unworkable?

Here's the petition, if you're interested in reading or signing it: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/642942

 

[Bletchleyite]

Implement this and watch compulsory reservations roll out quick as a flash...

 

[deltic]

You are effectively asking for compulsory reservations on all services.

It's unworkable, how do you define overcrowding - many longer trains have a couple of carriages full and standing and at the other end plenty of seats.

We used to have PIXC requirements in some franchise agreements that required TOCs to monitor crowding and when practical to introduce measures to reduce it but it's not always feasible.

 

[JonathanH]

Train companies often make large profits, and many are owned by foreign governments, so should be investing to prevent overcrowding.

That is unfortunately hyperbole and a bit emotive. The investment to build more capacity needs UK government funding to enable Network Rail to make improvements to infrastructure.

More broadly, does this seem feasible or unworkable?

Not really feasible. Where do you draw the line on overcrowding for a major event, or on a suburban train. Do you prevent passengers boarding an 'overcrowded' train by holding them at the station? When is a metro train overcrowded?

 

[75A]

So would you extend this idea to Pubs & Restaurants or anything else with a passing trade?

 

[jon81uk]

The investment to build more capacity needs UK government funding to enable Network Rail to make improvements to infrastructure.

Exactly and for whatever reason they keep delaying and adding more costs to the improvment to infrastructure that is already started (HS2) instead of actually getting on and doing it.