A train company boss has been slammed by passengers for spreading himself over two seats after stopping economy class passengers from entering first class.
Mark Boon – operations manager of Southern Rail’s parent company Govia Thameslink – told passengers to stay out of the carriage on a packed service, as he plonked his bag down in the next seat.
Passenger Emma Fitzpatrick took a photo of him with his things spread over two seats while other passengers had to squeeze into the rammed doorway of the adjoining carriage.
A Southern rail passenger took this picture of rail boss Mark Boon taking up two seats after ushering others out of his first class section of the carriage
Emma FitzPatrick tweeted this message with the photo after being shocked by his actions
The photo sparked outrage among Southern Rail passengers on social media, many of whom have endured months of delays and strikes.
Hair stylist Ms Fitzpatrick, from Croydon, South London, said that she joined the train mid-route before it terminated at London Victoria.
The 33-year-old said that Mr Boon had a ‘really awful manner’ as he ‘dismissively’ turned passengers away from approximately 10 empty first-class seats on the train.
She confronted him about his behaviour as the train pulled into London Victoria, telling him: ‘I can’t believe what you’ve done today. You should be hanging your head in shame.’
Ms Fitzpatrick claims Mr Boon handed his business card out to passengers as he turned them away.
Passenger Emma Fitzpatrick says she was shocked by the train boss’s behaviour
Sharing the photo on Twitter, Emma wrote: ‘Totally shocked to see Govia Railway Head of Operations, Mark Boon, telling all commuters to stay out of an EMPTY First Class carriage on a LATE & very packed train this morning. Meanwhile he took up two seats in there.’
She continued: ‘It was a London bound Southern Train that arrived into London Victoria at approx 11.45am this morning.
‘I still can’t believe it. He even handed his business card out to the people that he was turning away! Talk about rubbing salt into commuters’ wounds.’
Describing her experience on the train, she added: ‘I saw First Class had just two men sat in there, so lots of spare seats – around eight or 10 available. So I started squeezing past those stood up, to go and sit in there.
‘But then a lady told me the man there – pointing at Mark Boon, had told her not to sit in there as she had gone to sit down.
‘I couldn’t believe it. Then she showed me the business card he had given her. I said, “You must be joking”, but another female passenger nodded and said he had said the same to her.’
Commuters on the line have experienced horrific conditions and delays in recent years
The franchise has been repeatedly criticised over the conditions on its trains. Pictured: 2017
Ms Fitzpatrick said she made her way to the first class compartment – where Mr Boon glanced at her and immediately told her the same thing.
‘He didn’t even ask if I had a First Class ticket – he just looked at me and assumed I didn’t,’ she said.
‘He told me the carriage was for First Class passengers only. I was so shocked.
‘I told him I was feeling a little unwell so I needed a seat, but he dismissively said to go and get some water or something, and looked back down at his phone.
‘I told him I would sit down on the arm of a chair, so as to keep the First Class seats free.
‘I was just blown away looking back at the men and women packed in down the train.’
Within 24 hours of sharing the photo, Emma’s Tweet had been shared hundreds of times – with outraged Twitter users sharing their disdain.
A Govia Thameslink spokesman said: ‘Passengers need a first class ticket to travel in first class and there were other people with first class tickets in this compartment.
‘This was an 11am off-peak service running just six minutes late and, while the front coaches were busy, there were seats and space in the rear coaches, as Mr Boon explained.’
Delays, cancellations and overcrowding led to commuters staging protests in 2016
GTR is among the train companies criticised over the chaos brought about by the introduction of a new timetable this year.
A third new train timetable in two months has been published by Thameslink as the firm attempt to tackle severe disruption.
Government officials have warned Govia – which operates Thameslink – that it could be stripped of the franchise if the new timetable does not quickly improve service for passengers.