On board the sardine express - the overcrowded single carriage train between Grimsby and Lincoln
If you suffer from claustrophobia the daily return journey from Grimsby to Lincoln train is not for you
Peter CraigReporter
Rachael O'Flaherty
Welcome on board the sardine express from Lincoln to Grimsby.
After a barrage of complaints on social media and to the Grimsby Telegraph, we joined commuters travelling the popular route who say they have been left exasperated by the daily claustrophobia on board the single carriage train.
Passengers who use the route regularly, some paying almost £3,000 a year for season tickets, said they had been subject to the overcrowded carriage for months.
We joined the 5.22pm train from Lincoln to Grimsby to find out more.
Ben Wood, of Scartho said he had been travelling the route for 18 months.
He said: "It is busier some days more than others. But it is always overcrowded. I have complained to East Midlands Trains and all they say is that there is a national shortage of rolling stock and that it is a Department of Transport issue.
Overcrowding on the train to Grimsby from Lincoln (Image: Alex Ramsden)
"We shall see if it changes when the franchise is up for renewal. But it doesn't seem it will be resolved anytime soon.
"It is not comfortable."
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He added: "From a health and safety perspective it cannot be healthy to have people standing up all the time in a small space."
Ben Wood on Grimsby railway station platform after an overcrowded journey from Lincoln.
Richard Carr, who works at The University of Lincoln said he had been travelling on the route for five years and said he was concerned by the overcrowding.
He said: "Overcrowding is the main problem. The windows are often leaking."
Liam Stevenson, an apprentice not happy with cost of travelling on overcrowded train from Lincoln
Siemens apprentice, Liam Stevenson, 16 said he has to get up at 4.40am to get the 6am train to Lincoln from Grimsby so he can be at work for 7.30am, so at the end of the day he likes to be able to relax on the journey home in the comfort of a seat.
"But most often we are crammed in and people end up hugging one another."
He said he paid £2,496 per year for his rail ticket.
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Alex Dunn, 27, travels from Barnetby station every weekday to get to the city's university.
He said: "It would be nice to get the extra carriage. But I can't see that happening anytime soon. I pay £190 a month so it would be nice to get a seat."
Mark Hepworth, 40 Gilbey Road, Grimsby said: "The problem is overcrowding. It is seasonal. Sometimes there are people standing from one end of the carriage to the other end.
"I have never had to stand. It is not until Market Rasen that people get to find seats because many get off at Rasen.
"They really need to increase the length of the train."
Friends Stephanie Capindale, left and Emma Shuttleworth on the daily ordeal on the Lincoln train to Grimsby
Stephanie Capindale, 30, of Old Clee said: "It is horrendous. I have been doing the route for two years and pay £240 per month and sometimes I don't get a seat."
Emma Shuttleworth, 29, said: "It is overcrowding that is the problem. You sometimes have problems with the temperature when it is either really hot or freezing in the morning. With the seals rotting you get the rain flying in your face."
Jessica Charlton on the 5.22pm from Lincoln to Grimsby
Jessica Charlton, 42, of Grimsby who works for RBS in Lincoln said: "Everyone wants to get on the 5.22pm train because the next one is not until 8.03pm. There have been times when they told people to leave the station because it was so overcrowded on the platform."
She added: "An extra carriage would solve the problem, either that or make the train more regular.
"Usually after Market Rasen you can get a seat. But often you don't have anything to hold on to and you end up knocking over the person in front."
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Passengers have taken to social media, tweeting East Midlands to complain about the service.
We contacted East Midlands Trains with comments from travellers.
A spokesman said: "We're sorry to hear about the issues people are having when travelling on the Grimsby to Lincoln services.
"The number of carriages made available for each train company are agreed with the Department for Transport at the start of every franchise.
Train approaching Lincoln train station
"Every carriage within our whole fleet is already being used and we are therefore unable to provide any additional carriages on any of our services at this time.
"We regularly review our timetable and take into account feedback from passengers and passenger demand to determine any measures which can be taken to make improvements for the future.
"However we are currently using all of our trains in the best way possible to balance out the competing demands across our network."
Barnetby
Grimsby Town Railway Station