Trains boost

Most of the 36 services affected will have two extra carriages added to their current length.

It has been calculated that altogether an additional 4,718 seats will be made available to passengers across both peak periods with the introduction of these extra carriages.

Chris Burchell, managing director for Southern said: "Demand for Southern train services during the peak periods continues to grow, with a five per cent increase last year and a further increase anticipated for 2006. We need to continually assess the best options for reducing crowding. In the past two years we have managed to reduce the number of passengers in excess of capacity by two per cent. The additional carriages that we are now making available will help to ease some of the most crowded journeys even further."

The most crowded trains serving the London Metro area have been targeted to benefit from this additional rolling stock.

Selected train services to London Bridge and London Victoria in the morning, from stations such as: Tattenham Corner, West Croydon, Caterham, Wimbledon, Epsom Downs and Uckfield, will benefit from the extra carriages. Some return services from London to these stations in the evening peak will also provide more space for passengers.

The impact of these changes will be closely monitored and Southern will continue to look for further opportunities to reduce crowding across the network.

For more detailed information on all the services affected by the changes, please visit the Southern website at www.southernrailway.com