Rail passengers are being told to limit themselves to just one ‘sensible-sized’ suitcase when travelling this Christmas to reduce over-crowding.
Great Western Railway has urged customers to stop bringing ‘super-sized’ suitcases with them which ‘blocks aisles, exits and seats’.
It comes amid the announcement that London Paddington station will be closed over the holiday period from the 27-29 December for planned engineering works, leading to fears that more passengers will have to squeeze themselves onto fewer services.
Long-distance trains to Bristol, Devon and Cornwall will instead be running from Euston, mirroring a special service that ran in November for separate works.
Guidelines state that rail firms can restrict passengers to three pieces of luggage under the National Rail Conditions of Travel.
Travel operators may levy fees for putting bags on chairs, having more than three pieces on board or carrying luggage that is larger than one metre in any dimension.
However, rail firms say that they do not regularly enforce fines for this and instead the threats are a tactic to deter passengers from bad behaviour.
On crowded services, rail companies say that the threat of a penalty charge was a way to use ‘humour’ to stop selfish passengers from taking up room.
The operator has been under increasing pressure recently after terrible weather has lead to trains being delayed and cancelled, most recently with no services running between Plymouth and Penzance on December 8 because of Storm Darragh.
Most rail staff are not obliged to work on Sundays, meaning train companies are obliged to rely on volunteers who want
When not enough volunteers come forward, companies are forced to cancel trains, often at short notice.
A GWR spokesman said: ‘We’re seeing more and more people struggling on station stairways and trying to board trains with unwieldy, super-sized luggage, which can then block aisles, exits and seats.
‘Instead, we’re asking them to consider bringing a standard-sized suitcase which fits comfortably in the boot of a car and can be stored in luggage racks at the end of a carriage – or, even better, a couple of pieces of cabin-style luggage which can be stored in overhead racks or under seats.
‘There’s plenty of space on board our trains for sensible-sized luggage and this is about offering help and guidance to customers.’
Customers have also spoken out online about the dire state on some trains.
One user wrote on X: ‘Paid £105 for the privilege of standing amongst suitcases for two hours. Thanks @GWRhelp such a top notch experience xx.’
While another added: ‘London Paddington to Exeter St David’s, absolute shambles, elderly people sat on luggage, people standing for 2.5 hours, can’t access toilets.’
And a third chimed: ‘So another train where all the shelves are full, luggage is on seats and filling the bike storage area – completely inadequate storage on @GWRHelp trains – this is the leisure market targeted but trains inadequate.’
