Commuters living in neighbourhoods on the edge of London with some of the worst access to public transport are facing “cramped and uncomfortable” train journeys according to one MP.

Sutton is the only London borough without access to London Underground, Overground or Crossrail services.

It means residents must rely on mainline trains and buses to get around.

Elliot Colburn raised the plight of commuters in his Carshalton and Wallington constituency in parliament on Wednesday (April 26).

The Conservative MP told parliament things had become worse after the pandemic with fewer trains running at peak times.

He called for pre-pandemic levels to be reinstated to help commuters travelling into central London from Sutton.

In September 2022 off-peak and weekend services from Carshalton to London Victoria via Mitcham Junction were cut from four to two trains per hour.

Mr Colburn said even before the pandemic local stations were under strain. He said: “I had not been in this place for long before lockdown, but emails from constituents attested to cramped and uncomfortable journeys. I had experienced such journeys myself, as someone who used to commute from those stations.

"Indeed, I now commute every day to this place.

“Fast forward to today, and post-pandemic the situation is largely unchanged, just with fewer trains.

"Despite the return to user levels reminiscent of pre-lockdown levels—at least, that seems to be the case—commuters in Carshalton and Wallington still have to face very cramped peak-time trains.”

Huw Merriman, Minister of State for the Department for Transport, responded saying passenger numbers in the South London constituency “remain below pre-pandemic levels”

Mr Colburn also raised concens about last minute cancellations and delays from Govia Thameslink, the parent company of Southern and Thameslink.

In response to this, Mr Merriman said: “After some significant challenges in December, which were associated with continued driver availability constraints and high levels of annual leave, I am pleased to see that cancellations have reduced significantly this year, especially in recent periods.

“GTR retains a considerable focus on continuing that improving trend and delivering the reliability that customers expect and deserve.

"My department is working closely with GTR, and as my honorable friend might expect, closely monitors levels of short-notice cancellations and service delays.

"Any decrease in performance in those areas can negatively impact the management fee that the train operator receives.”