Dominic Raab, Esher and Walton MP, takes train pain to Parliament

Mr Raab, a commuter on South West Trains himself, said: “Every day, more than 22,000 residents of Elmbridge commute to London for work. That represents roughly 38 per cent of the borough’s work force—no small proportion.

“Many rely on the rail network, which means travelling with South West Trains. As a commuting MP, I know firsthand what the service is really like.”

Mr Raab told the Norman Baker, Minister for Transport, that the number on people using the railway in Elmbridge rose by 78 per cent between 2002 and 2010.

The most recent figures from the Office of Rail Regulation revealed that, in the financial year 2010-11, 11.6m passengers used the various Elmbridge stations.

Mr Raab said the quality of service provided by South West Trains is an important issue for local residents.

In autumn 2012, South West Trains was rated the joint-worst train company for providing value for money, with just 37 per cent of respondents saying they were satisfied with the service they received.

In December 2012, it was revealed that the 7.32am service from Woking to London Waterloo, which calls at several stations across the borough, is the second most overcrowded service in the whole country.

The train runs on average at 64 per cent over seated capacity, an additional 471 passengers than seats.

Alongside the overcrowded trains, Mr Raab told the Commons that commuters now experienced at least one late train per week and that rising season tickets costs did not take into account rising parking charges at stations.

Mr Raab said: “Frankly, it is difficult for me to stand on the platform with commuters and residents to tell them they are getting values for money. I am just not convinced that they are.”

Mr Baker said: “The route network, which is managed by Network Rail, extends to 643 miles, with 1,375 sets of points and more than 4,000 signals. The network is therefore complicated.”