Train bosses have apologised for shoddy service, including late or cancelled trains and lack of capacity, after a storm of complaints online.

South West Trains admitted its infrastructure was "ageing" and needed improvement.

Surbiton commuters complained of being made late for work and having to squeeze into packed carriages.

Engineering works blighted the Chessington line last month, delaying passengers trying to get home.

HassanMiguel91 tweeted: “Service to Kingston is terrible. More often then not, trains are late and mornings are crowded.

"Seems to be getting worse not better too. Just not good enough really".

shelleyjane1980 tweeted: "Can I ask why engineering works constantly overrun? Poor planning or too many tea breaks? It’s not acceptable."

And librarymoth told the operator: "8.11 surbiton-waterloo only 4 coaches – this service always packed by ClaphamJ w/8 coaches. Station workers not informed."

A spokesman for the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance said: "We know our passengers have faced a considerable amount of disruption during recent weeks as we work to deliver improvements to our ageing infrastructure and provide extra capacity and improved reliability on our trains.

“We are sorry that passengers have been affected by overrunning engineering work.

“We have followed this up as a matter of priority with the contractors and engineers delivering the works who are reviewing future engineering work to ensure that they do not let our passengers down again.”