Woman fined for putting one foot into first class on packed train

[whole diary]

[PhilWakely]

From Wales Online

(Wales Online reporting an incident from Greater Anglia!)

Woman fined for putting one foot into first class on packed train

She was confronted by the inspector in front of astonished commuters when the train stopped


The un-named woman talking to the ticket inspector on the Greater Anglia Trains Liverpool Street to Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, service

Furious commuters blasted rail chiefs today after a woman paying £6,000 a year for a season ticket was fined for standing with just one foot in a 1st class carriage.

The un-named commuter was stopped by a ticket inspector on the Greater Anglia Trains Liverpool Street to Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, service.

The train was packed full with commuters leaving the woman no other choice but to stand by the doorway with her a single foot in the compartment.

She was confronted by the inspector in front of astonished commuters when the train stopped in Shenfield, a suburb of Brentwood, Essex.

Taking to Twitter, other commuters vented their frustrations at the treatment of the woman.

Ben Cooper tweeted: "Someone is trying to charge a woman for having STOOD in the doorway of first class on packed train and I’m about to blow my f***ing top.

Meanwhile Katie Burnell tweeted the Greater Anglia train service to say: "The ticket inspectors on the 18:35 LST- Clacton on Sea are behaving like bullies.

"A woman is being charged a fine that is completely shocking - she stood one foot in 1st class in a packed carriage.

"Something needs to be done. They've cornered her. Camera in the carriage needs to have the footage reviewed. SHE DID^» (Didcot Parkway - next trains) NOTHING WRONG.

"I wish the inspectors used common sense. Truly shocking behaviour."

A third commuter, Georgie Smith, commented: "Absolutely disgusting behaviour from a ticket inspector on @greateranglia service who is issuing a woman a fine for daring to stand with ONE FOOT in first class despite the train being so busy no one could move.

"She pays £6,000 for a season ticket.

"Glad she had the support of many people who didn’t just stand by though."

Speaking of the conductors, she said: "They actually get commission and have targets to hit, so “just following orders” doesn’t seem valid to me."

Another commuter added: "I think Greater Anglia should be ashamed of themselves, these trains get so packed you have no option. DISGRACEFUL."

Greater Anglia, which has been criticised for delays and packed trains, today remained unrepentant.

A spokesperson said: “First class carriages, including the vestibules and aisles, are for the use of first class ticket holders only.

"Our revenue protection officer advised the customer there was more space available further down the train.

“If the customer would like to appeal the penalty fare, they can do so via IRCAS.

"We would encourage her to contact us direct if she is unhappy with how the situation was handled.

“Passengers must have the correct ticket for the time and class of their journey when travelling on one of our trains.”

[broadgage]

Whilst it sounds unduly harsh, we don't know all the details.
Standard class passengers should not enter first class, unless declassified. The TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) have stated that there was more space elsewhere in the train.

I have viewed similar scenes on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services when Reading and Paddington commuters all crowd the London end of the train in order to alight nearer the ticket barriers.
Some similar scenes of fury when such customers are charged an excess fare.

[TaplowGreen]

Whilst it sounds unduly harsh, we don't know all the details.
Standard class passengers should not enter first class, unless declassified. The TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) have stated that there was more space elsewhere in the train.

I have viewed similar scenes on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services when Reading and Paddington commuters all crowd the London end of the train in order to alight nearer the ticket barriers.
Some similar scenes of fury when such customers are charged an excess fare.

Jobsworth bullying pure and simple.

Classic example of a small man with very little capacity for independent thought, discretion or common sense and an even smaller intellect being given too much authority.

I suspect Freud may have an interesting view on it.

Bog standard response from the TOC who weren't there, I'd take the eyewitness experience of numerous other customers who were.