§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his Department's definition is of overcrowding for each train operating company(a) at present and (b) at the time the franchise was awarded; and if he will make a statement. [4833]
§ Mr. JamiesonSpecific definitions or thresholds for capacity apply to peak commuter services in London and Edinburgh only. Each train in use has a nominal capacity and operators must plan their services so that the aggregate number of passengers in excess of capacity does not exceed 3 per cent. over both the morning and evening peak, or 4.5 per cent. for either peak in isolation.508W For journeys of over 20 minutes the nominal capacity of the train is equal to the number of seats. For journeys of under 20 minutes the nominal capacity is equal to the number of seats plus the number of passengers who can stand at a density of 0.55m2 per passenger. These calculations apply today as they did at the time of franchising. Reducing overcrowding is a key target of our 10-Year Plan, particularly for commuter services.