Surbiton stations need more weekend train carriages

Weekend Surbiton trains need more carriages.  Surbitonpeople has contacted South West Trains and our local elected representatives to ask for more train carriages on weekend trains from Surbiton and Berrylands stations.

All Surbiton commuters will know that the trains on a weekday morning are packed.  It's very difficult to find a seat and often the standing areas are over-crowded, even though most of the trains have twelve carriages that stretch the full length of the platform.  Although the situation during the weekdays is unacceptable for the high cost of the train tickets, the train company do have a ready-made excuse.  There will always be more people wanting to travel on a weekday morning than there are seats on the trains. 

The number of people living in Surbiton rises constantly, so it's unlikely to get any better in the near future. But there isn't an excuse for the weekend.  Over the last four weeks I have caught a train into Waterloo or Clapham Junction at about 4pm.  Every time the trains have been packed and I have had to stand, despite waiting for an emptier train to come along.  The problem is that too many of the weekend trains only have four carriages. This isn't good enough. 

I'm willing (reluctantly) to put up with standing every weekday, but why should I have to do the same on a weekend afternoon?  All South West Trains have to do is increase the number of carriages on the trains at the weekend and that's problem solved.  So we have written to South West Trains, Boris Johnson, Tony Arbour (GLA representative) and Ed Davey MP.  We'll keep you updated with any responses and progress.