Rail bosses have apologised to people caught in a frightening crush at Twickenham station for finding themselves in an 'uncomfortable position'.

Nub News revealed yesterday how thousands of people trying to get home after the England match against Tonga on Saturday were herded into cramped and narrow alleys.

A resulting crush and surges in the crowd left youngsters in tears, while many others were distressed and fearful that they would be swept off their feet.

People complained about a lack of marshals and police to keep people safe, while others said it took up to three hours to get through the station.

Many said the station, which has undergone rebuilding to – in theory – cope with rugby crowds is too small and cramped to deal with large numbers on a match day. There are fears that, without urgent action, passengers are being put at serious risk.

The authorities are under pressure to improve the safety regime ahead of two further matches against Australia and South Africa over the next two weekends.

Senior rugby journalist Chris Jones, who writes for The Times, tweeted: "Twickenham station was meant to be revamped for the 2015 World Cup yet it remains a disgrace as an exit point for a major sporting event. It is a building site with thousands of fans of all ages herded into narrow tunnels.

"A serious situation that no one seems interested in solving. Two more Saturday night for fans to endure. If it rains it will be even worse."

Fan, Danny Gomm wrote: "The west bound entrance – to the station - after the game was just dangerous.

"Large queue outside the station, no information provided and all of a sudden the barriers opened into a funnel type set up. There was a large surge forward and people were pushed into the signage and fencing.

"This resulted in lots of older and younger people very distressed. It all seemed like a shambles.... I just hope its sorted for those attending over the next 2 weeks."

Sources at the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and British Transport Police suggested the crush was due to failures by South Western Railway (SWR). However, the rail company insisted dealing with crowds following matches at Twickenham was a joint responsibility with the RFU and the police.

SWR said the company had changed its timetable to increase services through Twickenham, however these plans were disrupted by an incident at Mortlake on Friday evening and trespass on the line on Saturday morning.

As a result, it said: "Trains were not in the correct formation before the match. This ultimately led to an overall reduction in capacity."

It said: "SWR and the RFU have a shared responsibility for crowd control following matches, and customer safety is our top priority.

"Working in partnership with the RFU, British Transport Police (BTP) and Met Police, we had sufficient staff resource in place to ensure that the platforms at the station didn't become overcrowded, meaning that trains could arrive and depart safely.

"Unfortunately, this contributed to the space outside of the station becoming exceptionally busy, and we would like apologise to any customers who found themselves in an uncomfortable position.

"We are working closely with partners ahead of the game this Saturday to ensure sufficient crowd management resources are in place both inside and outside the station".