May 31st 2009
Today I had to send an angry letter to Northern Rail about yobbish behaviour on the train. It spoiled a lovely day of cycling in Lincolnshire:
Saturday 30th May 2009
Dear Heidi Mottram,
I had the unfortunate experience of travelling on one of your trains today at the above time from Lincoln to Sheffield. Having cycled 45 miles around Lincolnshire during the day, I was looking forward to a pleasant trip back home to Sheffield. Unfortunately, at Lincoln, the train was joined by 15 very drunk, and rowdy males, heading back to Retford after a days drinking in Lincoln.
They proceeded to chant racist and offensive songs and shout and swear loudly down the train, climbing onto the seats and hanging from the baggage racks. They brought a large rubber dinghy onto the train and began ‘mock’ paddling it down the aisle. Myself and several female passengers were intimidated and put in fear of our safety when one of the party removed the fire extinguisher and sprayed myself, my £1,000 cycle and the female with foam.
At NO point did your train guard emerge during the journey from Lincoln to Retford. When he eventually emerged after the group had left at Retford I confronted him about his whereabouts and his responsibilty for the safety of passengers.
He announced that he had no intention of coming out of his cabin or acting whilst they were ‘playing up’. I asked him why he did not contact the police about the threatening and dangerous behaviour and he replied’ It’s not my problem’ and anyway ‘the British Transport Police have only got one officer to cover the whole of the area served by the train’ and were unlikely to respond or be interested.
I was looking at your passenger charter and feel very much that this has been breached in this case. Passengers were subjected to behaviour likely, in the words of the Anti-social behaviour legislation, to cause ‘alarm, distress or harrassment’ and your employees (the driver included) did nothing or took no steps at any time to prevent or remedy the situation. If your employee felt he could not act or was unable to act he should have summoned help or assistance and not shut himself away in the cabin, until the departed the train.
This was a complete abrogation of your responsibility to passengers. The group were very drunk and out of control and the situation was made worse by the inertia and complete intransigence of your guard in this instance.
Finally, as a BBC journalist, I’m appalled by this state of affairs and plan to raise this with your press office and the BT Police, who I’m sure will be interested in your guards comments.
Yours Sincerely,
Andy Kershaw
15, Woodbank Crescent,
Sheffield S8 9EE
Tel: 07910 589662
CC: Chief Supt Terry Nicholson BTP
Extract from Northern Rail Passenger Charter
All customer service staff on our trains will be easily identifiable and will present a good image, wearing full uniform including name badges. They will keep you informed during your journey and help with any problems, should they occur.
We will provide Rail Security Teams who will patrol trains on selected routes. Northern operate a Crimestoppers partnership, allowing anti-social behaviour to be reported via a freephone number, 0800 555 111. This number is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
