Aggressive Train Conductor Harasses Delayed Veteran, Leaving Passenger Fraught With Disgust Of His Treatment As A Paying Customer
A train conductor employed by West Midlands Trains, part of the LNR railway owned by Britain's Department for Transport, has been accused of aggressive harassment towards a delayed passenger, raising concerns about the conduct of rail staff and their treatment of travelers.
The incident involved a war veteran traveling from Axminster in Devon to Winsford in Cheshire. The journey began with a series of delays and deteriorated into a nightmare.
Initial Delays and Missed Connections
The veteran's short journey from Axminster to Exeter on a Friday evening was delayed by nearly an hour. The train left Axminster Station six minutes late and was then held at a red signal for around 40 minutes, causing the passenger to miss his connecting Cross Country train at 19:27. This forced the veteran, who suffers from shrapnel injuries, to wait nearly two hours for the next train at 20:55.
Further Complications and Additional Costs
The delays meant the veteran could not reach Winsford that evening, leading him to book a hotel at Birmingham New Street for £70 and purchase a new ticket for the next morning at £6.75. However, the ordeal continued when the Cross Country train from Bristol Temple Meads faced further issues, including a technical signal failure and a drunk trespasser on the tracks, resulting in the train returning to Bristol Temple Meads and being canceled.
The veteran described the chaos at the station, with train crew abandoning passengers and the promised alternative transport arrangements falling through. Frustrated and stranded, he eventually took an Uber to Avonmouth, borrowed a friend's car, and drove to Birmingham, arriving at his hotel at 2:15 AM.
Aggressive Confrontation on the Final Leg
After resting, the veteran returned to Birmingham New Street to complete his journey. Despite assurances from barrier staff that his ticket, albeit for the 6:20 AM train, was valid due to delays, he was aggressively confronted by a train conductor shortly into the journey. The conductor insisted the ticket was invalid and demanded the veteran purchase a new one, despite explanations and evidence of delays.
The veteran described the conductor as becoming increasingly hostile, refusing to check facts or listen to explanations, and accusing him of lying. The situation escalated to the point where the conductor threatened to remove the veteran from the train at the next stop and falsely claimed the police would be waiting.
Calls for Accountability and Action
The veteran finally arrived at Winsford and expressed his dismay over the experience, highlighting the aggressive and harassing behavior of the train conductor. He plans to take civil action, calling for better treatment of passengers and criticizing the profit-driven motives behind the aggressive conduct of railway staff.
"The sooner the Government nationalizes back the railways, the better," he said. "These money-making conductors are a disgrace."
This incident raises serious questions about the conduct and accountability of rail staff, the treatment of passengers, and the urgent need for improved management and oversight in the railway industry.