Extra people on the train

[voyager1]

I regularly use the daily 1800 East Midlands St Pancras to Melton Mowbray train. Throughout the summer months (June-September), the very front part of the economy section of the train had passengers and some empty seats. It was possible to turn up a minute before departure and get a seat.

Since the darker evenings, the service has become a lot busier. All these extra people have appeared out of nowhere. Now, when the train pulls out of the station, all the seats are full and there are people standing.

In addition, the pile of free newspapers at the top of the escalators - there would normally be at least half a pile remaining. Now, they're usually all gone by the time I get to the station.

My work colleague who catches the High Speed South Eastern service also commented on how his train has become extra busy.

Where are these extra people coming from? Are the darker evenings making everyone (who'd normally catch later trains) want to get home earlier?

 

[Tibbs]

Summer holidays? My trains were noticably quieter during the summer months.

Where is the first stop? I know a lot of my fitter friends cycle to work when the weather's nice (Watford to London is pretty doable).

 

[calc7]

You would probably only have 80% of an organisation's workforce present throughout the summer due to it being a popular time to take annual leave.

As you say, it is quite likely people are keen to get home and not work late or stay out for a drink - I am noticeably keener to get home since the nights have become darker sooner.

 

[CallySleeper]

1M61 calls at Luton and Bedford.

 

[rdwarr]

As you say, it is quite likely people are keen to get home and not work late or stay out for a drink - I am noticeably keener to get home since the nights have become darker sooner.

Strangely, I'm just the opposite. I don't mind working late when it's already dark outside but, in summer, I like to get home early to enjoy the sunny (well, sometimes) evenings.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Busiest traffic time - freight and passenger is Sept to December

 

[The Ham]

It's not just the trains, the roads are often busier when it the evenings are darker. Possibly due to the fact that once it's dark/dusk people will clock watch and leave on time. Add to that people taking leave during the summer (lighter) months and people not wanting to cycle, stand at bus stops, walk or anything else that involves being outside quite so much and it makes the travel home of an evening busier.

It is not just because of schools, May & June are good times to take off work to get DIY projects done.

Also, with regards to schools, parents are more willing to let their children walk on their own when it is light so once the clocks change in the spring the number of children walking increases.

 

[Greenback]

Strangely, I'm just the opposite. I don't mind working late when it's already dark outside but, in summer, I like to get home early to enjoy the sunny (well, sometimes) evenings.

I'm with you on this one. I;m not in such a rush to get home once the nights get darker and the weather gets damp!

Add to that people taking leave during the summer (lighter) months and people not wanting to cycle, stand at bus stops, walk or anything else that involves being outside quite so much and it makes the travel home of an evening busier.

It is not just because of schools, May & June are good times to take off work to get DIY projects done.

I think it's certainly true that people do tend to take more leave between Easter and September.

There are, of course, some routes that are much busier in the Summer and during school holidays, but I doubt this is one of them!

 

[Welshman]

I suppose it's also possible that some people were avoiding London during the Olympics.

 

[voyager1]

Strangely, I'm just the opposite. I don't mind working late when it's already dark outside but, in summer, I like to get home early to enjoy the sunny (well, sometimes) evenings.

In the autumn/winter, do you find the later trains e.g. after 1900 to be quieter?

 

[GodAtum]

Same here during the summer my train to Victoria was not busy now it packed!

 

[MK Tom]

Why is this service still daily? I'd thought there was an intention to provide more frequent services north of Corby.

 

[northwichcat]

In the Manchester area there tends to be less people travelling in the morning peak during school holidays but some of the morning off-peak trains are heaving.

In the afternoon on average trains are busier but the ones that get a lot of school/college pupils on them in term time tend to be a bit more lightly loaded.

Although, the period between Christmas and New Year is usually an exception to that where most trains seem to be quiet and you can find spare Metro papers at stations mid-afternoon at stations where they usually have all gone by around 8.

 

[bengolding]

Ahhh....blame it on the "Bedford Crush". All EMT services that stop at Bedford during the peaks are full and standing without fail. This only seems to be a Bedford issue as those that stop only at Luton/Luton Airport Parkway don't seem to be that bad - take my 1715 the other day for instance. I always make a point of skipping these services when I use EMT even though I travel First. I was on the 0632 from Derby last week and it was a sight to see how many were wanting to board at Bedford and Luton Airport Parkway. First became full and standing on the HST, I hate to think what Standard was like.

Is the 1800 a double Meridian like the 1700? If so, may be worth arriving early and going to the extreme front carriage.

 

[causton]

I have noticed this on the roads - I always used to get a local bus to North London to catch the tube when I went in - the bus leaves Hatfield at 08:40 (in theory) and arrives in London at 09:30 to catch the first off-peak tubes from the station.

Throughout the summer the bus always used to leave 10 minutes late (logs indicate around 08:50 usually) but still arrive at 09:25ish. The last 2 times I have caught the bus the A1(M) and A1 have been very busy and last time the bus was almost on time leaving but 10 minutes late at the terminus! There are no extra people on the bus, it is just down to the A1 being busier (but the drivers know which lanes move faster and which don't!) and the roads through Edgware being busier than usual!

 

[bicbasher]

The trains on my route into London Bridge didn't seem to get busier until October in my area on the morning commute. It appears with the Paralympics, people decided to have a longer summer holiday, this despite schools returning in early September (in England).

It was nice to be able to get a table and 4 chairs to yourself on a 377 in August!

 

[Starmill]

I personally tend to leave earlier when it's autumn because I don't want to be waiting at a station for long in the dark, or more importantly, the cold! I've noticed that patronage on my commuter train into Manchester has increased recently as the light levels at 7 30 have fallen off a cliff in recent weeks!