Perhaps they need to change the peak period and make mornings off-peak. Haha. I jest.For long distance leisure travel on Fridays / Weekends, yes.
The 0730 from Birmingham to Euston this morning would have been a different matter.
On more serious matters. I got the 17:40 Guildford to Gatwick Airport today and whilst it wasn't packed it wasn't empty either.
I sat in a single seat beside the loo. More space for my rucksack.
At Gatwick Airport platform 7 was busy. Two trains had been cancelled and one following them (17:26] was running 12 minutes late due to a train fault
So I wandered down towards the London of the platform. Just so happens I was in the right coach to exit at Haywards Heath station.
I got on the late running 17:32.
The carriage was busy but not as bad as I had expected, with ai many on the platform. I got a seat to myself
At Haywards Heath 7 of us alighted from my coach alone, along with some others from other carriages. Maybe it was the time of the evening when people return from London.
I noticed quite a few trains were cancelled thus evening due to staff shortages.