South Coast trains have become 20 per cent more crowded during peak hours, according to government figures.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But a Transport for NSW spokeswoman said South Coast commuters were still able to get a seat.
TfNSW checks passenger loads on all trains in March and September each year.
This week TfNSW released the September 2015 figures which showed a spike in passenger numbers in both the morning and evening peaks.
In the morning peak, the passenger load measured at Helensburgh has jumped 19 per cent year on year – from 66 per cent to 85 per cent.
The maximum load also rose from 76 per cent to 86 per cent.
The homeward run is measured at Sutherland and climbed 22 per cent – from 59 per cent last year to 81 per cent this year.
In the evening peak the maximum load rose from 86 per cent in 2014 to 101 per cent in September 2015.
A 100 per cent loading means every seat is taken, 110 per cent sees six or seven people standing in each vestibule, while 120 per cent will mean 11-12 people are standing.
The TfNSW spokeswoman said the load data for the South Coast line showed Illawarra residents got a seat.
“On the South Coast line, the maximum morning peak load observed at Helensburgh was 85 per cent – that means all passengers who boarded prior to that station had a seat for the duration of their journey,” the spokeswoman said.
“During the evening peak, South Coast train loads were observed at Hurstville and Sutherland with, on average, all passengers able to get a seat.”
The spokeswoman identified customer comfort as “among our top priorities”.
“That’s why we are closely monitoring train loads across the network, and particularly Intercity services where customers face longer commutes,” she said.
“There are a limited number of trains and carriages on the rail network and we are constantly striving to manage services in the best way possible for customers.”