Have a look at the Passenger Focus website for information on what you can do about delayed trains. Given the short nature of the journey it's unlikely that anyone in our neck of the woods will be eligible for compensation and as HTG points out above, thanks to a bit of clever timetabling the train company no longer loses out on season ticket revenue.

The chances of getting a seat appear to be diminishing as people distribute themselves on to earlier/later trains in my experience too, Michael. Where 8-8.45 was busy before, anything from 7.15 to 9.15 appears to be standing room only from HOP.

Personally I'd just like more (and longer) trains. With seats (not the crazy rolling stock which appears to be made up of decommisioned buffet cars) And in less than 2 and a half years. Doesn't seem that much to ask, but I am pessmistic about the chances of things getting any better in the short term. As HTG says, we just need to grit our teeth and hang on until the Overground arrives. Problem is that in the short term there probably isn't anything in it for the train company.

In the meantime one small thing Southern could do it to attach straps or handles for the standing passengers to hang on to - not sure that they have any incentive to do so, though.

For what it's worth (trying to look on the bright side), I think that the customers are doing what they can in the circumstances - people seem to be moving into the aisle a lot more, and generally by the time the train gets to HOP and Brockley there's not the same crowding concentrated on the doors.