Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are any controls in existing legislation on the rights of railway passengers to have a seat for their journey; and whether legislation includes reference to the number of standing passengers that can safely travel on a train.

There are no controls within existing legislation. All franchises let by Department for Transport require the train operator to take reasonable steps to address crowding.

Safe assessment and operation of services is a matter for individual rail operators’ safety management systems as certificated by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). We expect all franchised operators to discharge the Franchise Agreement in line with industry safety standards.