OLD-STYLE, cramped and less- comfortable trains are being brought back for Petersfield commuters in a bid to combat the growing problem of overcrowding. This week, Petersfield and Liss commuters learned that the new Desiro 444 trains, which have more leg room, are being taken off the Portsmouth to Waterloo line at peak times. They are to be replaced by the older 450 Desiro trains, which carry as many as 140 more passengers. The move has been greeted with dismay and concern by many commuters who say the 450s were designed for short, suburban journeys and are not suitable for passengers travelling from as far away as Petersfield. South West Trains admits the 450s are less comfortable, have less leg room, fewer toilets and no tables on board, but they say the move has been brought about by an "ever-increasing demand" for South West Trains services and increasing housing developments along the line bringing ever more commuters. This week's announcement confirms the worst fears of Petersfield rail users who sounded a warning less than a year ago when South West Trains published passenger figures showing that passengers to and from Petersfield had topped the one million mark. Figures between August 2004 and July 2005 showed that journeys were five per cent up at 1,025,233, representing an amazing 52,445 more journeys beginning or ending at Petersfield station. After the figures were published, the chairman of the Rail Users' Group, Petersfield commuter Brian Keefe, warned: "The line is in danger of being so successful it will be overcrowded. The indications are that the line will reach saturation at some stage and some efficient husbandry will be needed." He said it was not possible to provide more trains because of the bottleneck created outside Waterloo, adding that more carriages were also ruled out because some platforms on the line were not long enough. This week he told The Herald: "Unfortunately, there is logic in the arguments being put forward now to alleviate overcrowding. I can't visualise any logical alternative. "It's a question of priorities and I understand this. There should not be a large number of people standing on the trains, particularly after a hard working day. "I think this move will be permanent because if the number of people living in this area is growing, it will continue to grow over the next few years and South West Trains will be unable to go back to using the more comfortable trains." South West Trains said the change will help to ease the horrendous overcrowding currently experienced by some commuters on the busy line. The move has come about through a new franchise commitment to provide 21 per cent more mainline seats and 20 per cent more seats in suburban areas. Last week, Dr Keefe wrote to South West Trains' commercial timetable manager, Peter Brooks, expressing concern about the move and asking for more information. "On trains from Guildford during peak morning times, eight trains have around 300 passengers standing on them by the time they leave the last stopping point, and in the evening, six trains depart with around 200 people forced to stand," he told him this week. But some East Hampshire commuters and councillors have expressed fears that the additional seating could result in rail users facing discomfort on longer journeys. Dr John Tough, also a member of the Rail Users' Group, is also concerned about the lack of comfort provided on the older commuter trains. He said: "The trains are more suburban with much less comfort than the newer 444s as the seats are much harder and narrower with less knee room. The journey from Liphook to London takes more than an hour and commuters would be extremely uncomfortable sitting in these cramped conditions." He said the group was pressing commuters to express their concerns in writing over any possible reduction in standards and comfort on the Portsmouth service.
