Transport Minister Norman Baker: Walk, don't catch train

More people should work from home to ease the rush-hour crush, Transport Minister Norman Baker said today.

Liberal Democrat Mr Baker argued it was "crazy" that commuters take to trains and the Tube at the same time every day when other options were available.

Ministers are looking at a number of ways to spread the peak which Mr Baker said would help London firms cope during the Olympics and severe winter weather. The moves could see rail, Tube and bus firms offer bigger discounts outside the busiest times in an attempt to get commuters to abandon the rush hour.

Flexible working could be encouraged to get workers to start earlier or later, while video conferencing could mean people not having to leave home at all and office "hubs" could be set up on the edge of the commuter belt.

"It is crazy these days for people to go to work when work can come to people," Mr Baker told the Guardian.

"It is even crazier that we all travel on the same train on the same day at the same time."