Aren’t Britain’s privatised train operators wonderful?
This report by Claire Ellicott appears in the Daily Mail.
When Stephanie Spacey’s family accidentally boarded the wrong train, they presumed it would be a mistake easily remedied.
But after Virgin Trains demanded they buy new tickets, threatened her 14-year-old son with three months’ imprisonment and led a ‘campaign of threats and intimidation’ against the family, she decided to act.
The company director was travelling from Coventry to Euston for a friend’s birthday with her husband, son and two friends on March 20 last year.
Her friend had booked tickets to travel on the 9.51am train, which came to a total of £95, but the group accidentally boarded the 9.31am train.
A ticket inspector, who refused to give his name to the group, told them they had to buy new tickets costing £270.
Mrs Spacey, 30, is suing the company and demanding a full apology.
The family appealed against the penalty fare, but Virgin wrote back to say they would have to pay the £270. They even sent a letter to Sir Richard Branson, the owner of Virgin Trains, but the reply was the same.
THE CAMPAIGN FOR PUBLIC OWNERSHIP SAYS RENATIONALISE OUR RAILWAYS NOW!
LET'S REINTRODUCE SIMPLE EASY TO UNDERSTAND DISTANCE BASED PRICING AND END THE
GREAT PRIVATISATION RIP-OFF!
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2 comments:
A friend was recently assaulted by a Southern Railways 'Revenue Protection Officer' for daring to be pushed into the wrong side of the carriage by the sheer volume of people trying to get on. The RPO then threatened to smash his camera and refused all attempts to reason with. Southern Railways took my friend to court and he WON!
Well done to your friend!
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