Most people worked 6 days a week in 1928 - 5 full days, Monday to
Friday, and half a day on Saturdays. Timetables and rolling stock were
geared to these. "In London there is a generally heavy workmen's traffic
from the opening of the lines, at about 5 o'clock, till the closing of
the period of availability of the cheap workmen's tickets at 7.30 a.m.

An early hours off peak service? Would such a concept work to spread the
crowds if tried today?


It is sort of used now with Oyster PAYG, but I think the whole journey
has to be before 0700 or after 1900. Presumably anyone starting early
would also be finishing early, so they'd pay the full wack to get home.