commute to Waterloo from Richmond, North Sheen, Kew Bridge, Chiswick - are trains overcrowded?

[tashka]

Hi, I would really appreciate some views on how good/bad is commute by train to Waterloo in the rush hour from Richmond, North Sheen, Kew Bridge, and Chiswick stations - are trains seriously overcrowded?

I have read a lot about these areas on mumsnet and all of them seem like really nice places to live, but I will need to commute to Canary Wharf for 9.30.

Would really appreciate if you could say how bad is the journey, i.e.

1 - you can easily get on the train and most times get a seat;
2 - you can easily get on the train and but rarely get a seat;
3 - you can get on the train but getting a seat is joke;
4 - you can't get on the first train and can only do the second or third one...

Thank you so much in advance for all the replies!

P.S. I have also posted on the general mumsnet forum, hope this is not against the rules...

I know Richmond and North Sheen...Richmond has the most trains - slow, medium and fast. Fast trains are the busiest and boarding at 830am you will be unlikely to get a seat. North Sheen has slow trains only and you would be more likely to get a seat. I've never had to wait for the next one at Richmond. Fast trains take 16 mins to Waterloo with only one stop at Clapham Jct so not standing too long.

North Sheen "slow" trains still only take about 25 mins into waterloo and you would always get a seat and there is parking in teh streets around the station. Kew bridge similar but no parking. No free parking at Richmond but very fast trains (much busier) but not so many houses within walking distance of the station.

By the time my train gets to Twickenham at 7:35 all the seats are taken, standing room only by Richmond (but that is the fast train).

The train from Chiswick is usually standing room only by 7:45.