Sussex Thameslink Service Named Britain's Most Crowded Train

A Thameslink service linking Bedford and Three Bridges has been named Britain's busiest train, according to new Department for Transport figures.

The morning peak service, which arrives at London St Pancras at 8.09am, was carrying an average of 76 per cent more passengers than its 650-seat capacity on typical weekdays last autumn.

Another Bedford to Three Bridges service arriving at 8.24am was ranked the fifth busiest, with passenger numbers averaging 55 per cent above the number of seats available.

The figures are based on passenger counts collected between September and December 2025.

Thameslink said its 12-carriage trains are designed to carry large numbers of standing passengers safely and noted that by the time the services reach Sussex, seats are typically available. It added that it continues to monitor demand and increase capacity where possible.