On Aug 20, 10:45*pm, Paul Weaver wrote:
On 20 Aug, 09:14, Andy wrote

Peak London Midland services are not severely overcrowded from Euston
to Harrow (maybe with the exception of the 4 car 19.04 departure in
the evening). Sure there are usually a few people standing, but the
doorways and aisles are not packed at all.

I've been left behind at Harrow going northbound when there wasn't
space -- after people had got off and others had got on. That was on a
12 train in the evening peak.


Which 12 car train (assuming that is what you mean) in the evening
peak. To my knowledge, the only 12 car train that is diagrammed to
stop at Harrow is the 08.14 heading south in the morning peak. 17.04,
17.24, 17.40, 18.04, 18.24, 18.34, 18.54 and 19.34 ex Euston are all
normally 8 cars, with the 19.04 only 4 cars.

Only this Monday, the 18.04
departure stopped additionally at Queens Park due to the Bakerloo line
(and DC line) having delays due to a signal failure at Willesden
Junction and it didn't get uncomfortably full after leaving Queens
Park. I very much doubt that anyone would get left behind at Euston.

Wish I'd known that when I was sat at Willesden Jn at 17:45 trying to
get to harrow for 18:16 to get on that very train. grr.

I suppose making Queens park and Harrow pick-up-only Northbound (in
the peaks) would free up enough space on the services.

How would that help, when at least 100 people get on (morning) or off
(evening) each trains at Harrow each day and there is no capacity for
them on the DC lines.

It would mean 100 less people getting on/off at harrow, meaning the
trains aren't as crowded, and dont leave people behind at Euston.
While the trains can just about cope when all is well, when there's
the slightest problem it all goes to pot.


So where do these 100 people go? I few of them use London Midland to
avoid the overground London Overground service which they then change
onto at Harrow, but what about the rest? When LM go wrong and LO have
to take over, things get much worse!

*As I said before, the Harrow stoppers are not
overcrowded. The more overcrowded services seem to be those that are
first stop Watford and then most stops to Milton Keynes.

In peak most trains to/from mkc stop at harrow, and are acceptable
north of there. When the masses get on at harrow things become very
uncomfortable, and squeezing on even now at Euston isn't easy.

I've certainly never had problems getting on and will get a seat the
majority of the time if all is running to plan. I do have to goto the
rear half of the train to get this seat, but not right up to the back.
Leaving Euston in the evening, the same applies, if I arrive late and
bundle onto the rear carriage, there will be no room, if I arrive 3-4
mins before departure and walk down the train, there will be free
seats, even in the middle of the train.