Sorry, but East Rail now originate at the madhouse called Hung Hom. Having said that, the really packed section is only between Kowloon Tong and Tai Wai, where one may have to wait for a couple of trains before able to get on - if traveling south at Tai Wai or north at Kowloon Tong. Still, even if one find the train relatively "empty" at University, it certainly won't be once it gets to Sha Tin.