Commuter fined for having ‘one foot in 1st class’
‘The train was packed’
A COMMUTER who pays £6,000 a year for a season ticket has been fined for standing with just ‘one foot in a first class carriage’ on a packed train.
The unnamed passenger was reprimanded by a ticket inspector on the Greater Anglia service from Liverpool Street station in London to Clacton- on- Sea, Essex, on Wednesday night.
Witnesses said the train was so full that ‘no one could move’, leaving the woman with no choice but to stand by the doorway with a single foot in the compartment.
She was confronted by the inspector in front of astonished fellow passengers when the train stopped at Shenfield and fined £32.50 for not having a first class ticket.
In mobile footage filmed by another commuter, the woman can be heard saying: ‘I’m not saying I have a first class ticket but there was nowhere to stand, but I stood, I did not sit.
‘There was nowhere else to stand, the train was packed. This is ridiculous.’
Greater Anglia said the woman had been told there was space further down the train. But other commuters vented their frustration on social media.
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.’
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 nothing wrong. I wish the inspectors used common sense. Truly shocking behaviour.’
A third commuter, Georgie Smith, said: ‘Absolutely disgusting behaviour from a ticket inspector 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.’
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 said: ‘These trains get so packed you have no option. Disgraceful.’
Greater Anglia, which has been criticised for delays and packed trains, 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 against the penalty fare, they can do so. 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.’