The afternoon squeeze on Melbourne's train network has increased for the second year running, with the Craigieburn line topping the list as the city's most crushed during the day's two peak-hour rushes.

But in more positive news for commuters, new data in the Department of Transport's annual passenger survey shows the morning rush on Metro trains has improved for the first time since 2017.

Commuters continue to feel the crush on Metro's afternoon peak-hour trains. Credit:Justin McManus

The 2019 Metropolitan Train Load Standard Survey was conducted between May 6-23 and measured the number of commutes in which passenger numbers exceeded trains' 900-person capacity.

It showed 6.3 per cent of overall services network-wide in the afternoon peak were packed beyond that benchmark, up from 4.8 per cent the previous year, while morning over-capacity had fallen from 9.8 per cent to 7.2 per cent.