Increase rail capacity?
Try adding one extra carriage per train.......ok some platforms may be a bit short but not an impossibility....indicate who will have to use which as often happens with split trains now.
Double decker style carriages where bridges and tunnels allow ( raise them if needed!).
Perhaps I am making a really stupid suggestion here?
I don't think they are stupid suggestions, far from it, but apparently there's a major shortage of rolling stock and the problem with double-decker coaches is that they'd be restricted in terms of which routes they could use. Stonehouse station manages fine, even though an 8-coach Intercity 125 can only fit the front two coaches on the platform.
They restored the double track between Swindon and Kemble a few years ago, opening the way to much more frequent services on the Golden Valley line, but nothing's come of it yet because they haven't got enough stock.
I think that there's probably scope for increasing train frequencies too, but as I understand it that would require a thorough overhaul of the signalling and train management technology. I'm sure Bob would know far more about this.
