Are 1600 extra seats enough

10.18.07am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th Oct 2009

Sal Brinton, prospective MP for Watford, welcomed London Midlands announcement last week on the start of a new shuttle service between Watford and Euston. However she questioned whether it would really solve the problem.

Sal said: 'As I was travelling into London on the 7.16 train on Monday there were at least 20 people standing in every carriage. Simple maths shows that is over 1900 standing passengers during peak hours in the morning. Therefore the numbers are much higher, possibly double.

'My office have been trying to get an answer out London Midland as to how many passengers stand on a daily basis, and whether the 1600 extra seats will be enough to allow the majority of passengers a seat on these services. They have failed to respond to our queries.

'Whilst it is great news that we are getting extra seats, we need to know that a regular traveller paying in excess of £60 a week for a 7 day season ticket gets the service they deserve.'