More than a fifth of London-bound commuters forced to stand on 'overcrowded' trains According to a snapshot taken last Autumn, the most overcrowded train was a 08.27 from Heathrow to Paddington, with a load factor of 165 per cent. But this figure was skewed by a number of other cancellations. The next busiest trains was the 18:13 London Euston to Birmingham New Street - with a load factor load factor 165% These statistics show rail is vital to the economy, getting millions of people to work every day. But it also shows many commuters are faced with an unacceptable combination of overcrowded trains and spiralling ticket prices," said Richard Hebditch, Campaigns Director, Campaign for Better Transport. Government needs to give rail passengers a fair deal by ending above inflation ticket price hikes and making sure franchise holders tackle overcrowding. Bob Crow, the leader of the RMT transport union, blamed the private train operators for commuters" plight. "While passengers are forced to pay through the nose to stand, crammed in on sweltering, overcrowded trains, the private companies running these services are making huge profits in the safe knowledge that the whole racket of rail privatisation is a one-way ticket to the bank," he said. Until our railways are run as a public service, under public ownership and control, this scandal of the British paying the highest fares in Europe to travel on some of the worst services will continue unchecked. Norman Baker, the local transport minister added:"Climbing on to a very crowded train is an unpleasant experience and I sympathise with passengers using these services. I urge train operators to do what they can on these particular trains. The Department is working closely with the industry to ensure this issue is tackled.