The London rail service that’s just been named the UK’s busiest

Katherine Gray
·2-min read
File photo dated 2/8/2019 of a ThamesLink train at Kings Cross station in London. Britain's biggest train company has warned passengers to expect disruption due to "widespread IT issues". Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) – parent company of Southern, Thameslink, Gatwick Express and Great Northern - issued an alert on the brands' social media channels. Issue date: Friday July 19, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story RAIL IT. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
-Credit: (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)


A London rail service has been named the UK’s busiest over the last year. Nine of the ten busiest rail services in the UK were in the capital for 2023, according to data released from the Department for Transport.

Running all the way through London, this service reaches its maximum load at London St Pancras International. The 7.33am service from Bedford to Three Bridges had the highest maximum load factor on the list (204 per cent) for the year 2023.

READ MORE: The Croydon neighbourhood where you have to walk more than 30 minutes to the nearest train

A load factor of 100 per cent means the number of passengers on board is equal to the number of seats. Customers start to experience overcrowding when trains reach a load factor of around 135 per cent.

Thameslink has now increased this service to operate with 12 coaches, providing space for an additional 618 passengers - so hopefully people should be having a better experience commuting from Bedford this year.

Black cabs queuing outside Marylebone Station in London.
The 7.46am service from Prince’s Risborough to London Marylebone took second spot -Credit:Jot/Getty Images

A Thameslink spokesperson told MyLondon: “We constantly monitor how busy our services are and proactively take action to increase capacity on our routes. Since this survey was carried out a year ago, we gave passengers more space by lengthening the 07.33 from eight to 12 carriages and added another train at 07.15 to create even more capacity. This December we’ll also be lengthening the 07.03 service by 50 per cent.”

A London rail service also took second spot on the list - the 7.46am service from Prince’s Risborough to London Marylebone. This service has a maximum load capacity of 165 per cent, reaching its peak at London Marylebone.

Chiltern Railways, who run the service, has now launched their 2030 vision to improve customer experiences. From June 2024 they have introduced additional peak services in Buckinghamshire to help reduce overcrowding.

UK’s top 10 busiest rail services

  1. 07.33am Bedford to Three Bridges

  2. 07.46am Prince’s Risborough to London Marylebone

  3. 14.57pm Gloucester to Maesteg

  4. 06.10am Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo

  5. 17.46pm London Euston to Crewe

  6. 07.03am Bedford to Three Bridges

  7. 18.30pm London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour

  8. 07.14am Alton to London Waterloo

  9. 06.14am Stourbridge Junction to London Marylebone

  10. 7.30am Bedford to Three Bridges

Got a story? Please get in touch at katherine.gray@reachplc.com

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