Overcrowding is a problem on the south coast route, a survey says

The report from the Rail Passengers' Committee says the problem is so bad that sometimes commuters cannot even board trains because of overcrowding.

The report says Wessex Trains' route is one of the fastest growing and most overcrowded in the country.

The committee claims modest investment might solve the problem.

In the past year passenger numbers on the hourly service have risen 11%.

The route, which runs from Bristol to Bath Spa, Trowbridge, Southampton and on to Portsmouth Harbour, is used by 4.5m people a year.

During the morning rush, passengers say they have to stand on 50% of services.

That figure rises to four trains in five in the evening, the survey says.