The London Assembly’s Transport Committee has published a new report, Too Close For Comfort, investigating the levels of overcrowding for London Underground passengers, and how the stress and frustrations of overcrowding and line closures affect people's behaviour and travel choices.
Caroline Pidgeon AM, Lib Dem Chair of the Transport Committee said:
Our report highlights shocking levels of overcrowding on the Tube and the impact this has on people. London Underground cannot be complacent about finding ways to make the situation more bearable.
We are also calling for new thinking on how Tube upgrade work is managed. We cannot have a repeat of the way the Jubilee line upgrade works have been handled when it comes to upgrading other lines. There is an assumption that seemingly endless line closures are inevitable but, as our report and the evidence from Madrid shows, this is simply not the case.
The investigation found that during the morning peak hours, some trains are carrying more than four people per square metre. Over 80 per cent of passengers interviewed in a survey said they experienced overcrowding which caused them discomfort, and more than half were sometimes unable to board the first train.
Detailed interviews with Tube users also identified a number of ‘coping strategies’ people adopt to deal with the stresses of travelling on overcrowded trains, from suspending the normal codes of behavior and taking a ‘dog-eat-dog attitude’, to ‘switching off and shutting down’.
As well as gathering passengers’ views, the Committee took evidence from key players like London Underground and maintenance contractor Tube Lines, as well as the Metro de Madrid where upgrade works involve far fewer line closures.
The report calls for London Underground to change its approach to managing overcrowding and upgrade works, and to ensure that in future upgrade works, a much higher priority is given to minimising disruption for passengers. It criticises the ‘chaotic’ Jubilee line upgrade – which is now even further delayed - for hastily arranged closures which have caused unnecessary disruption to passengers and to venues along the route like The O2 and ExCel.
The report highlights a number of ways the passenger experience could be improved, including making sure all new trains make the most of the best available designs, and providing clear ‘traffic light’ information about crowding levels and details of alternative routes before people pass through the ticket barriers.
The Committee has asked the Mayor, London Underground and Tube Lines to report back next year and confirm what progress has been made on its recommendations.
The BBC covered the Committee's findings here.
You can read the full report here.