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Londoners who want a seat on their train to work have been told to move to the seaside by the head of Britain's busiest rail company.
Keith Ludeman, chief executive of Go-Ahead which includes train operators Southern, South-Eastern and London Midland, said commuters should be prepared to stand if they live close to the city.
Mr Ludeman said today: “It's not unreasonable to expect someone to stand ... this is a mass, metro transit system.
“If you're coming up from the coast you might expect to get a seat, but your chances are reduced closer to London.” Mr Ludeman, who last year called for rail companies to be allowed to run shorter trains in the recession despite growing overcrowding, was criticised for his remarks, made in an interview with the Financial Times.
Anthony Smith, chief executive of the lobby group Passenger Focus, said: “Our concern about Mr Ludeman's approach is that if the train is grossly overcrowded — as so many are — then you can't stand up in comfort; and that really irritates. If you have a lot of people getting on and off the trains at the same time, it also starts to eat into punctuality.”
The Department for Transport has said that no one who travels more than 20 minutes should have to stand.
Reader views (8)
This man is wasted running rail services. O'Leary should snap him up as Head of Blue Sky thinking at Ryanair.
- Michael Murphy, colchester
We don't have the same problems in the Nordic countries because everyting is carefully planned and the infastructure is world class and the state owns the railways and subsidises it with high taxes but at least you will always get a seat on a train that arrives on time. When ever I travel to the UK and use the transport system it is like visiting a third world country and you are treated like cattle but have to pay the highest rates for the privalage.
- Frank, Copenhagen, Denmark
This is clearly not a rail 'service' more a 'dis-service'... As someone who used to commute on a regular basis from Birmingham to London the train used to become packed with commuters at Luton. BR's solution to the problem? Remove two carriages, switch the 'early' train to 45 minutes later, raise the price. It became more economical to buy a car and drive. This way I knew I would arrive at a specific time rather than the randomness I came to know of sitting (with no information) for varying periods of up to 1.5 hours... I have commuted on trains in mainland Europe and only once had an issue with no seats.
- James, Spain
..and if everyone got on at stations near the coast, there would just be far more people getting on at the start of the journey and still insufficient seats to go round. DUH! Perhaps Mr Ludicrous should actually try using the "service" his company provides and see what very poor value for money it is.
- Hb, England
Mr. Ludicrous clearly does not use the service that he and his company provide. If he did, he'd be a lot quicker to admit it is sorely in need of investment rather than shorter trains.
- Louise, London
Coming soon - RyanTrains. Seats, wheels, doors and windows available for a supplement of £14 each, plus credit card fee of £5.
- Andrew, London
South Eastern are already close to charging premium prices for seats - if you live close to London, then you are going to stand at peak times unless you fork out for First Class (which means you get to sit in one of the seats that are a different colour and much more expensive, but are otherwise identical to the normal seats)
- David, Tonbridge
Shows how much in touch with his customers Mr Ludeman is. But why should he worry? What alternative is there? How long before they introduce premium prices for seats (or discounts for those that have to stand .. as if!!)
- Paul, London
