Sussex: MEP attacks 'sardine' trains

Lib Dem Euro MP Chris Huhne has criticised rail operator Connex over their service.

Liberal Democrat MEP for Sussex Chris Huhne has accused local train operator Connex South Central of putting commuters safety at risk by packing them into trains like sardines.

New figures from the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) show the number of overcrowded trains operated by the company has increased to 4.7% over the last year and as many as 6.2% of trains regularly run over capacity during morning rush hour services.

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The new figures represent an increase on the figure of 3.9% of all trains run by Connex South Central in Autumn 1999 and have again breached the limit of 3% set by the SRA.

Mr Huhne said: 'These figures are very disappointing and show that capacity on the most important commuter routes in the South East is still woefullyinadequate.

'My constituents in Sussex already have to cope with late services and cancelled trains and are sick of travelling to work packed in like sardines.

'Connex and their successors, GOVIA, must take urgent action to increase capacity and relieve the problem of overcrowding for the sake of passenger comfort and more importantly, safety.

'They need to introduce new rolling stock as well as more frequent peak-time

services and longer trains, and also look at increasing track capacity.

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