Rail travellers ate too many free biscuits

A RAIL company has curbed free refreshments for first- class passengers at weekends – because they were eating and drinking too much.

First-class ticket-holders were allowed unlimited tea, coffee, water, fruit juice, biscuits and crisps on Greater Anglia’s Intercity trains between Norwich and Liverpool Street in London.

However, the company has now discontinued the service for some passengers. A spokesman said: ‘We found that the system of offering complimentary refreshments was being abused at weekends and it was no longer commercially viable.’

Greater Anglia declined to reveal how many free drinks and snacks were being taken by first class passengers.

The decision has angered many. One passenger from Ipswich, who asked not be named, said: ‘Greater Anglia is trying to make even more money out of us.

‘The train service is pretty bad and the free refreshments were a small way of helping to make up for it.

‘I am not aware of the service having been abused. It is just penny-pinching.’

The company said that, under the new policy, free drinks and snacks are still provided to first-class season ticket holders at weekends – but not to anyone with an ordinary first-class ticket.

During the week, first-class customers are still able to enjoy the perk when they show their tickets in the buffet carriage.