Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the effect on the physical and mental health of rail users of overcrowding on trains.

The Department does not undertake any specific assessment of the effect on the physical and mental health of rail users of overcrowding on trains. The Department recognises the need to create more capacity on the network, to relieve the overcrowding and provide a better traveling environment for passengers across the country. Recent commitments include an overall capacity boost of nearly 70% across the Trans Pennine Express franchise region during the morning peak, and nearly a 40% increase in capacity for passengers travelling into the 5 major commuter cities served by the Northern franchise (Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle) during the morning rush-hour. The Northern franchise will also provide more services and more space on the Cumbrian Coast line, with timetable improvements to benefit workers at Sellafield and Whitehaven.